The Israeli army announced Thursday the withdrawal of its 98th Division from northern Gaza, in preparation for what it called “additional missions”—a move the Hebrew daily Yedioth Ahronoth interpreted as a sign that the ground offensive dubbed “Gideon’s Chariots” may soon be coming to an end.
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On its X (formerly Twitter) account, the army said:
“Today, in line with operational planning and the combat schedule, the 98th Division has concluded its operations in northern Gaza.”
It added that the division had engaged in “intense combat” and is now preparing for unspecified additional tasks. According to the statement, the division operated over the past month in Shuja’iyya and Zeitoun in the north, and earlier in Khan Younis in the south.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has been waging a genocidal war on Gaza, involving systematic killing, starvation, destruction, and forced displacement—with full U.S. support—ignoring international pleas and multiple International Court of Justice rulings calling for an end to the onslaught.
The ongoing campaign has resulted in more than 206,000 Palestinian casualties (dead and injured), most of them women and children, in addition to over 9,000 missing persons, hundreds of thousands displaced, and a famine that has claimed the lives of many, including dozens of children.
On Thursday, Yedioth Ahronoth noted that no announcement was made regarding replacement forces entering Gaza following the 98th Division’s exit—a potential indication that the end of the “Gideon’s Chariots” ground operation is near.
