Israel intensifies Gaza offensive: elite troops moved in for new phase of conflict

The conflict between Israel and Hamas enters a new critical phase. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has announced the transfer of elite troops, including the Paratroopers Brigade and the Nahal Brigade, into the Gaza Strip in preparation for a new expansion of military operations in the Palestinian enclave.

According to the official statement, the paratroopers, previously deployed on the Syrian border under the command of the 210th Division, have now been assigned to the 98th "HaEsh/Fire" Division, active in the northern Gaza Strip.

In parallel, Nahal Brigade soldiers, who until a few days ago were operating in the West Bank, have been reassigned to the 162nd Division, which will also operate in northern Gaza. During its recent deployment, the Nahal Brigade arrested more than 100 wanted suspects, confiscated dozens of weapons and neutralized several militants labeled as terrorists.

To replace these troops in their home areas, thousands of reservists will be mobilized, already deployed to the Golan Heights and the Syrian border. However, it is not yet clear whether reinforcements will be sent to the West Bank to fill the gap left by the Nahal Brigade.

The transfer of forces and the reorganization of military divisions follow the official decision of the Israeli security cabinet, which on May 2 approved the expansion of military operations in Gaza. The plan, promoted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, envisages total military control of the north of the Strip and the forced transfer of the civilian population to the south of the enclave.

Netanyahu has stated that this plan seeks to achieve two strategic objectives: the final defeat of Hamas and the return of the Israeli hostages still held in Gaza. To this end, the IDF has already issued mobilization orders for tens of thousands of reservists in preparation for a full-scale invasion.

According to military sources, the offensive will be carried out in several phases and could take days or weeks to be fully implemented. A complete "cleansing" of northern Gaza is also planned, with the forced displacement of civilians to the south, where the Israeli government has announced the start of a new pilot program of humanitarian assistance.

Source: https://www.jpost.com/spanish/noticias-de-israel/article-853626