Gallant: IDF withdrawal from Khan Yunis in preparation for Rafah operation

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Sunday that the IDF withdrew from Khan Yunis after Hamas ceased to function in the area, adding that the troops left in preparation for a coming Rafah operation. While speaking at the IDF's Southern Command base, he stated, "The withdrawal of the troops from Khan Yunis was carried out after Hamas ceased to function as a military organization in the city, the forces left to prepare for the operation in Rafah." At the end of an assessment, Gallant said: "I have now completed a situational assessment at the Southern Command, and troops are on their way out of Khan Yunis. The achievements of the 98th Division and its units are extremely impressive—eliminating terrorists, destroying enemy targets, warehouses, weapons, underground, headquarters, and communication rooms—all these things were carried out in a very impressive way. Thus, Hamas stopped functioning as a military organization throughout the Gaza Strip." The defense minister also said, "The troops are exiting and preparing for their next missions. We saw examples of such missions in the Shifa operation and their coming mission in the Rafah area," Gallant said at a meeting with military officials, according to a statement from his office. Additionally, the IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi stated on Sunday, “The war in Gaza continues, and we are far from stopping.” Halevi also spoke on the hostage negotiations, saying that "the return of the hostages is an urgent and important goal. We are working to return all the hostages as quickly as possible. The IDF will know how to withstand even a difficult price and how to come back and fight back with strength."