Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
Reservists of the 5th Brigade operate in the northern Gaza Strip, in a handout image released by the IDF on February 3, 2024. (Israel Defense Forces)
The IDF has withdrawn the 5th Brigade from Gaza and it has been replaced with other forces in the northern part of the Strip, the military says.
Troops of the reserve infantry brigade operated in Gaza City’s Shati camp in recent weeks.
In the last week, the IDF says the 5th Brigade located a tunnel shaft with an elevator beneath a Hamas hideout apartment.
This image released by the IDF on February 3, 2024, shows a tunnel shaft with an elevator in Gaza City’s Shati Camp. (Israel Defense Forces)
The reservists also seized military equipment used by Hamas and intelligence documents, and destroyed weapons, as well as rocket launchers.
The IDF has been withdrawing much of its reservist forces from the Gaza Strip in recent weeks, leaving the standing army to continue the fighting against Hamas.
Military officials say the IDF aims to release reservists to help bounce back Israel’s economy and give them a break before they are likely called up again, as the fighting in Gaza is expected to last all year, and there are fears of an escalation in the north amid daily attacks by Hezbollah.
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From the Liveblog of
Saturday, February 3, 2024
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