CNN: Far-right Israeli minister criticizes military withdrawal from Gaza
A far-right Israeli government minister has criticized the country’s military’s decision to withdraw a division of the army from Gaza, exposing fresh divisions among lawmakers over the military offensive in the Palestinian enclave.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said a “barrage of rockets” launched from Gaza toward Israel on Tuesday demonstrated the necessity of the occupation of Gaza for realizing combat objectives.
On Monday, The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) declared that the 36th division, comprising armored, engineering and infantry companies, was withdrawing from Gaza after 80 days, marking a significant move to a new phase of combat.
A growing number of leaders condemned the south of deaths in Gaza, where the deadly Israeli military offensive left more than 2.2 million people exposed to famine, deadly diseases, and forced displacement.
Israeli attacks on Gaza killed at least 24,100 Palestinians and injured 60,834 others, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. CNN cannot independently confirm the figures due to the difficulty of reporting from the war zone.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced the withdrawal of some troops from Gaza, mentioning that the “intensive maneuver phase” of the military campaign in Gaza will end soon.
“The original plan was for the ‘intensive maneuver phase’ of the military campaign in Gaza to last approximately three months,” Gallant said, adding that the military should adapt its operations “according to the reality on the ground” and “our intelligence.”
An IDF spokesperson said the 36th division has withdrawn from Gaza “for a period of refreshment and training,” with the division’s future movements remaining undecided.
Three IDF combat divisions and special forces now remain in Gaza, with the 98th Division, the largest division in IDF history currently operating in central Gaza.
Disagreements among lawmakers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet over proposed post-war plans for Gaza have recently come to light, unveiling the tensions within the government. Far-right politicians advocate for the full reoccupation of Gaza, while Netanyahu desires a prominent role for the Palestinian Authority.
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has forcibly displaced at least 1.93 million people, leading to comparisions to the massive displacement of Palestinians in Gaza to the “Nakba” or catastrophe.
CNN’s Richard Allen Greene, Niamh Kennedy, and Lauren Izso contributed to this report.