Israeli army reintroduces 5th Brigade to operations in Gaza

JERUSALEM

The Israeli army announced Monday that its Fifth Brigade has been redeployed to military operations in the central Gaza Strip, after it had been withdrawn at the end of January.

In a statement, the army said: “The soldiers of the Fifth Brigade have resumed maneuvering (military operations) in central Gaza,” as part of a conflict with Palestinians that has continued for over a year.

“In recent days, the brigade's soldiers completed a series of exercises at the Ground Forces Training Center,” the statement added.

The army also said: “The forces conducted drills and maneuvers in both open and urban areas, improving their operational readiness for their mission in central Gaza.”

The statement noted that these “forces completed logistical preparations and conducted training on mobility, supply chains, and immediate medical response in preparation for combat.”

The Israeli military has not specified the exact mission of the Fifth Brigade.

Central Gaza includes what the army refers to as the “Netzarim Corridor,” a key area used to separate the northern, central, and southern parts of the territory.

According to the military, soldiers from the Fifth Brigade “fought for many months in Gaza, including in Beit Hanoun, Khuza'a, and along the coastal strip in western Gaza.”

While the army has not confirmed the exact date of the brigade’s withdrawal, Israeli media reported that it left Gaza at the end of January.

The Israeli army does not officially disclose the number of its soldiers currently stationed in Gaza, but it has mobilized 360,000 reservists to support the ongoing war, which began on Oct. 7.

Israel has continued its military offensive on Gaza following a cross-border assault by the Palestinian group Hamas last October.

Despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire, the conflict persists.

According to local health authorities, more than 41,200 people, primarily women and children, have been killed, and over 95,400 injured since the offensive began.

The Israeli strikes have displaced nearly the entire population of Gaza, worsening shortages of food, clean water, and medicine under a longstanding blockade.

Israel is currently facing accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.

* Writing by Mohammad Sio in Istanbul.