After months of war and fighting, the Israeli Military, known as The Israeli Defense Force, has withdrawn ground forces from Khan Younis, a city in the southern sphere of Gaza. For months the IDF had been fighting there, leaving Khan Younis in ruins.

At the start of the current war, the IDF had marked Khan Younis as a safer zone, where residents were then told to take shelter there if fleeing from northern Gaza. However, due to surrounding conditions, the IDF took its defense there, causing inhabitants to flee again.

On Sunday, the IDF’s 98th Division of Defense announced its leave from the city. The IDF released a statement that their conclusion from the mission was to “recuperate and prepare for future operations.” 

Since January, the 98th division has been IDF’s largest defense division. It was enlarged even further for this current war and more specifically to fight Hamas in Khan Younis.

The removal of the division came about not only due to preparation for future battles but also from pressure put upon by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to allow for a small cease to allow for more aid in Gaza.