On April 7, exactly six months after the Hamas attack in October, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced its full withdrawal from southern Gaza, leaving only one brigade in the Strip to maintain ongoing operations in the region. The IDF left Khan Yunis in southern Gaza days later.
"Today, Sunday, April 7th, the IDF’s 98th commando division has concluded its mission in Khan Yunis. The division left the Gaza strip in order to recuperate and prepare for future operations," the IDF said in their official statement. "A significant force led by the 162nd division and the Nahal brigade continues to operate in the Gaza Strip, and will preserve the IDF's freedom of action and its ability to conduct precise intelligence-based operations." (Related: Netanyahu vows to demolish Hamas as Israel nears “fateful hour,” denies Gaza hospital attack.)
Meanwhile, Netanyahu reiterated at the beginning of a cabinet meeting on that same day that Israel would not agree to any ceasefire unless Hamas freed all remaining hostages.
"I have made it clear to the international community: There will be no ceasefire without the return of the hostages. It simply will not happen. This is the policy of the Government of Israel, and I welcome the fact that the [administration of President Joe Biden] made it clear on Friday [April 5] that this is still its position as well," Netanyahu said on April 7.
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Netanyahu assured his cabinet that the war would continue, but senior Israeli ministers still slammed the temporary withdrawal.
Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, a noted extremist, urged Netanyahu to initiate a fresh ground assault on the southern Gazan city of Rafah, where over 1.4 million Palestinians from all over the Strip are seeking refuge. If not, Ben-Gvir warned that Netanyahu's position as the prime minister could be compromised, strongly suggesting a desire to coup Netanyahu in favor of a more militant prime minister.
"If the prime minister decides to end the war without a large-scale offensive in Rafah to defeat Hamas, he will not have a mandate to continue serving as prime minister," Ben-Gvir posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Minister of Finance and adjunct Minister in the Ministry of Defense Bezalel Smotrich, another noted extremist, joined Ben-Gvir in the dissent. He contended that the withdrawal sabotages Israel's prospects for achieving victory in the conflict.
"The only forum authorized to make significant decisions is the full [State Security Cabinet], but unfortunately this is not how things are happening," said Smotrich. "We are seeing decisions being made in the smaller [War] Cabinet without approval … [and] under international pressure that is harming the war’s momentum and our interests."
Netanyahu also faces mounting pressure from 100,000 Israelis demanding a hostage deal
Aside from the open rebellion within his cabinet, Netanyahu also faces mounting pressure from hundreds of thousands of Israeli protesters who are demanding that he agree to a deal for the immediate release of all remaining hostages.
The same day the IDF announced its withdrawal in Gaza and Netanyahu faced mutiny, Israelis flooded the streets in a massive rally against the prime minister, demanding immediate action to secure the release of 130 hostages held by Hamas militants in Gaza. The rally took place at a Tel Aviv intersection renamed "Democracy Square" following mass protests against controversial judicial reforms in 2023.
Protesters wielded torches and waved Israeli flags and marched through the streets of Tel Aviv while holding slogans that read: "Leaving no one behind" and "Hostage deal now." The protesters also called for the resignation of Netanyahu and an end to the conflict in Gaza entered its seventh month, chanting slogans like "election now" and "Elad, we're sorry."
The latter is a reference to hostage Elad Katzir, whose body was recently recovered by the IDF. He was last seen alive in a hostage video released in January. His sister, Carmit, blamed Israeli authorities for her brother's death, saying he would have returned alive had they agreed to a ceasefire.
Similar demonstrations were also held in other cities across Israel, with opposition leader Yair Lapid joining a protest in Kfar Saba before departing for talks in Washington.
"They haven't learnt anything, they haven't changed. Until we send them home, they won't give this country a chance to move forward," Lapid said.
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