Strategic Communications Coordinator for the National Security Council at the White House, John Kirby, said that Israel has now moved to a less intense phase in its military operations in the Gaza Strip, and that Washington is working to determine the appropriate conditions for the return of people to the northern Strip.

Kirby stated that the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) continues to pose an "active threat" to Israel and threatens to launch attacks similar to the October 7 attack.

But he added that the United States hopes that withdrawing Israeli forces from the northern Gaza Strip will ease the pressure and allow the population to return to that area, noting that his country is preparing to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza.

The Israeli army withdrew its forces from several areas in the northern Gaza Strip after weeks of war during which it suffered heavy losses, but it claimed to dismantle the capabilities of the Palestinian factions in those areas.

Yesterday, Monday, Israel announced the withdrawal of an entire military division out of the 4 divisions participating in the attack on Gaza, which is the 36th division that was attacking the camps area in the middle of the Strip.

On the other hand, Kirby said that American officials are holding “serious discussions in Qatar in order to reach another agreement to release the hostages,” and added that Washington hopes that these efforts will bear fruit soon.

Source: Al Jazeera