After weeks of intense pressure from the US and other countries, IDF spokesman Brigadier General Daniel Hagari confirmed (Monday) that the army has begun a new and less intense phase of combat, as he said in an interview with the New York Times.
The IDF spokesman's words were said just hours before the American Secretary of State's visit to Israel. According to Hagari, "the campaign has changed phase and it has already begun the transition to a campaign that will include fewer ground troops and airstrikes."
According to Hagari, Israel will continue to reduce the number of soldiers in Gaza, this is a process that began this month. The intensity of the operation in northern Gaza has already begun to decrease as the army moves to carry out more targeted raids instead of large-scale maneuvers. He also noted that Israel will now focus on the southern and central strongholds, especially around the cities of Khan Yunis and Deir al-Balah.
85% of Gaza's citizens left their homes
He noted that Israel also aims to allow additional humanitarian aid, including tents to house displaced persons, to Gaza. The UN says that as of the end of December, almost 85% of Gazans, or about 1.9 million people, were forced to leave their homes due to Israel's airstrikes and ground campaign.
Also, the IDF spokesman denied that Israel is committing genocide, and said that Israel has taken all precautions to avoid civilian deaths and is trying to increase the transfer of aid to Gaza.
Hagari pointed to Hamas as guilty of endangering civilians, "implementing infrastructure in civilian areas." He added that the tribunal should focus on how the war began on October 7, when Hamas raided Israel and murdered approximately 1,200 people, prompting Israel to respond with airstrikes and an invasion. "We were the ones who were slaughtered," he noted.
Earlier, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant revealed that Israel will move from the maneuver phase to specific operational actions. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir attacked Gallant's words. "The reports and interviews abroad that the little cabinet decided on the end of the phase and a transition to limited activity in Gaza, are in fact announcements of the end of the war of subjugation and a transition to the war of attrition - the little cabinet has no mandate to announce this. That's not how we'll win!"
