ON Sunday, Israel ended its monthslong operation in Khan Younis, withdrawing all its troops from the southern Gaza Strip and leaving only one brigade in the region to continue operations in other areas. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the withdrawal was to prepare for the country's coming mission in the city of Rafah. Experts believe such a move from Israel is only a temporary compromise under internal and external pressure and does not mean the end of the current round of the Palestine-Israel conflict. Instead, it rather indicates that the war will drag on.
Currently, Israel is facing heavy pressure. With US' indulgence, the country has repeatedly ignored UN's ceasefire resolutions. Recently, seven aid workers from the non-profit World Central Kitchen tragically died in an Israeli strike, once again igniting the anger of the international community. At the same time, protests against the government are continuing to escalate in Israel. A Chinese military expert told the Beijing-run tabloid Global Times that in addition to the pressure from the US and domestically, Israel also needs to worry about retaliation from Iran. On the other hand, it is likely to have realized that it is impossible to completely eradicate Hamas in Gaza, and this withdrawal may also be a strategic move.
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