Gallant: This is why the IDF left Khan Yunis

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant conducted a situational assessment today (Sunday) at Southern Command along with Defense Ministry Director-General, Maj.-Gen. (res.) Eyal Zamir, Command Commander Maj.-Gen. Yaron Finkelman, and staff officers.

At the situational assessment, the minister was presented with the main points of the operations in Khan Yunis and Shifa Hospital, as well as the operational preparations for dismantling the Rafah Brigade, which will complete the military dismantlement of Hamas.

Gallant said at the end that "the forces are leaving and preparing for their follow up missions. We saw examples of such missions in the action in Rafah, and also the follow up mission in the Rafah area. We will reach a situation where Hamas is not controlling the Gaza Strip and is not functioning as a military framework which endangers the citizens of the State of Israel."

"We are working closely with the U.S. Ambassador and U.S. officials"

Gallant also met with US Ambassador Jack Lew and discussed Israel's efforts to tighten and improve coordination of aid delivery and communication with humanitarian organizations in the face of the World Central Kitchen tragedy.

Among these efforts are a new Humanitarian Coordination and Deconfliction Cell, and various efforts to streamline security checks and increase the number of access points for delivering aid.