“Troops withdrawn”. Turning point or risk of escalation? – The weather

Israel withdrew all its troops from the southern Gaza Strip overnight, with the exception of one brigade. This was announced by the Israeli army, explaining that only the Nahal Brigade of the Defense Forces (IDF) was left on site, with the task of securing the so-called Netzarim Corridor, which crosses the Strip from the northern border, near from Kibbutz Beeri (in southern Israel), to the coast of the Palestinian exclave. As reported by the «Times of Israel» newspaper, control of the corridor allows the IDF to carry out raids in the north and center of the Gaza Strip, prevent Palestinians from returning to the northern area of ​​the territory and allow humanitarian organizations to provide aid to the population. Does the unexpected decision arise from an intention of truce or is it dictated by the alarm raised by Iran?

Meanwhile, exactly six months after the massacre carried out by Hamas, the secretary general of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres wrote on X: «October 7 is a day of pain for Israel and for the world. Nothing can justify the horror unleashed by Hamas. I once again condemn the use of sexual violence, torture and abduction of civilians and call for the unconditional release of all hostages.” US President Joe Biden’s administration is pressuring Israel to allow some displaced Gaza civilians to return to the northern part of the Strip, amid concerns about an impending Israeli military operation in the southern city of Rafah. This was reported today by the “Wall Street Journal” newspaper, citing US administration sources according to which, during the recent half-hour phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden expressed the request to work on this issue and invited the Israeli leader to accept an immediate ceasefire in the enclave.