World
Israel is pulling thousands of troops from Gaza as combat focuses on enclave's main southern city
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Thousands of Israeli soldiers are being shifted out of the Gaza Strip, the military said Monday, in the first significant drawdown of troops since the war began as forces continued to bear down on the main city in the southern half of the enclave.
The troop movement could signal that fighting is being scaled back in some areas of Gaza, particularly in the northern half where the military has said it is close to assuming operational control. Israel has been under pressure from its chief ally, the United States, to begin to switch to lower-intensity fighting.
Word of the drawdown came ahead of a visit by Secretary of State Antony Blinken to the region and after the Biden administration bypassed Congress for the second time this month to approve an emergency weapons sale to Israel.
But fierce fighting continued in other areas of Gaza, especially the southern city Khan Younis and central areas of the territory. Israel has pledged to charge ahead until its war aims have been achieved, including dismantling Hamas, which has ruled Gaza for 16 years.
The military said in a statement Monday that five brigades, or several thousand troops, were being taken out of Gaza in the coming weeks for training and rest.
In a briefing Sunday that first announced the troop withdrawal without specifying how many forces were leaving, army spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari did not say whether the decision meant Israel was launching a new phase of the war.
“The objectives of the war require prolonged fighting, and we are preparing accordingly,” he said.
Israel has vowed to crush Hamas’ military and governing capabilities in its war, which was sparked by the militant group’s Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel, which killed 1,200 people. Roughly 240 people were taken hostage.
Israel responded with a blistering air, ground and sea offensive that has killed more than 21,800 people in Gaza, two-thirds of them women and children, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count.
Israel says more than 8,000 militants have been killed, without providing evidence. It blames Hamas for the high civilian death toll, saying the militants embed within residential areas, including schools and hospitals.
The war has displaced some 85% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, sending swells of people seeking shelter in Israeli-designated safe areas that the military has nevertheless bombed. Palestinians are left with a sense that nowhere is safe in the tiny enclave.
BATTLES IN THE SOUTH
In Khan Younis, where Israel is believed to have thousands of troops, residents reported airstrikes and shelling in the west and center of the city. The military and the militant group Islamic Jihad reported clashes in the area.
The Palestinian Red Crescent said on X, formerly Twitter, that it transported several dead and injured following a strike late Sunday in the Beach Street in Khan Younis. It posted nighttime footage showing medics carrying casualties to ambulances.
Combat was also reported in urban refugee camps in central Gaza, where Israel expanded its offensive last week.
“It’s our routine: bombings, massacres and martyrs,” said Saeed Moustafa, a Palestinian from the Nuseirat camp. He said he could hear sporadic explosions and gunfire in Nuseirat and in the nearby Bureij and Maghazi camps.
“Just as we speak, there is a big explosion not far from my home,” he said in a phone call Monday morning.
The military said an airstrike killed Adel Mismah, a regional commander of Hamas’ elite Nukhba forces, in the central city of Deir al-Balah.
Hamas fired a large barrage of rockets toward Israel, including at its commercial hub Tel Aviv, as the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve.
‘A DIFFERENT MODE OF OPERATION’
Israel has said the war will last for months. It has argued that it needs time to clear Gaza of militants’ weapons and infrastructure and to prevent Hamas from being able to stage more attacks. Israel has resisted international calls for a long-term cease-fire, saying doing so would amount to a victory for Hamas.
Shlomo Brom, a retired brigadier general once in charge of strategic planning in the Israeli military, said the troop changes may be a result of the U.S. pressure. He said it indicated a shift in how Israel was conducting the war in some areas.
“The war is not stopping,” said Brom. “It is the beginning of a different mode of operation.”
Israelis still largely support the wars aims, even as the cost in soldiers’ lives is mounting.
Over the weekend, the military said that of the soldiers killed since the ground operation began — as of Monday, 172 in total — 18 were killed by friendly fire while another 11 died by weapons or equipment malfunctions or accidents.
___
Jobain reported from Rafah, Gaza Strip and Magdy from Cairo.
___
More coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
new video loaded: Several Countries Boycott Eurovision 2026 Over Israel’s Participation
transcript
transcript
Several Countries Boycott Eurovision 2026 Over Israel’s Participation
Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands and Slovenia said that they were boycotting next year’s Eurovision Song Contest because Israel would continue to be allowed in the competition.
-
“So we’re big fans of Eurovision. And I think what Eurovision stands for isn’t politics. However, what’s happening, what Israel is doing, is not good. So I think whatever the countries decide to do, it’s up to them.”
By McKinnon de Kuyper
December 4, 2025
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A powerful anti-Hamas clan leader protecting civilians in Gaza and allegedly backed by Israel has been murdered in Rafah, according to multiple reports.
Yasser Abu Shabab, head of the Abu Shabab militia, known locally as the “Popular Forces” of the Gaza Strip, had risen to prominence for his cooperation with Israel against Hamas’ influence in the region, according to analysts.
“Abu Shabab militia helped Israel to protect the locals and prevent Hamas from harming them,” Professor Kobi Michael, senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) and the Misgav Institute told Fox News Digital.
DOZENS KILLED IN GAZA AS VIOLENCE ERUPTS BETWEEN HAMAS AND ARMED CLANS
Yaser Abu Shabab leads an anti-Hamas militia in Gaza. (The Center for Peace Communications)
“Hamas has become deeply troubled because of these militias and makes its utmost efforts to dismantle them. It perceives them as a real threat, but the fact that Abu Shabab was murdered by a rival, Hamula, indicates that it will not be enough just to disarm Hamas.
“Still, without an effective alternative governance to Hamas, the Strip will deteriorate into chaos.”
As reported by Fox News Digital in July, Abu Shabab’s group began forming in early 2024 after the IDF entered Rafah and Hamas started to lose control of the area.
AFTER TRUMP DECLARES ‘WAR IS OVER,’ HAMAS EXECUTES RIVALS IN GAZA TO REASSERT CONTROL
Hamas terrorists in the northern part of the Gaza Strip Dec. 1, 2025. (Omar Al-Qatta/AFP via Getty Images)
Allegedly operating under Israeli protection, his men were escorting aid trucks, distributing supplies and asserting control over parts of eastern Rafah.
On Thursday, The Jerusalem Post reported sources claiming Abu Shabab was initially wounded in a clan-related confrontation. He was subsequently evacuated to a hospital in southern Israel, where he later died from his injuries.
The Popular Forces later released a statement, also cited by The Jerusalem Post, confirming Abu Shabab’s death and insisting he had been killed while attempting to resolve a local dispute.
WARFARE EXPERT CALLS GAZA REBUILDING PLAN ‘DISNEYLAND STRATEGY’ TO DEFEAT HAMAS
Yaser Abu Shabab leads the Popular Forces in Rafah. (Courtesy: The Center for Peace Communications)
The group vowed to continue its operations until “the last terrorist was eliminated in Gaza,” adding that it would keep pursuing “a bright and secure future for our people who believe in peace,” the outlet said.
In a past interview with Ynet, Abu Shabab said, “We will not leave the Gaza Strip and will continue to fight Hamas until the last one is dead.”
A senior U.N. official, Georgios Petropoulos, also once referred to him as “the self-styled power broker of east Rafah,” according to a previous New York Times interview.
ISRAEL SAYS HAMAS VIOLATED CEASEFIRE WITH ‘MULTIPLE ATTACKS’ LEADING TO IDF RESPONSE
Terrorists in the central Gaza town of Deir al-Balah celebrate the ceasefire on Jan. 19, 2025. (TPS-IL)
“Israel has never believed that these militias can replace Hamas or become an effective ruler of the Gaza Strip,” added Michael.
“But both sides have a common enemy — Hamas. On the other hand, these militias were and are against Hamas and willing to fight Hamas. Israel perceived these militias as another operational tool in its war against Hamas and established cooperation with them based on local interests and essence.”
According to Reuters, Abu Shabab’s militia continued operating from Israeli-controlled areas of southern Gaza following the U.S.-backed ceasefire in October.
IDF STRIKES HAMAS ‘TERRORIST TARGETS’ ACROSS GAZA FOLLOWING REPORTED CEASEFIRE VIOLATION
Palestinian Hamas terrorists stand guard on the day of the handover of hostages held in Gaza since the deadly Oct. 7 2023, attack, as part of a ceasefire and a hostages and prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip Feb. 22, 2025. (Reuters/Hatem Khaled/File Photo)
On Nov. 18, the group posted a video showing fighters preparing for a security sweep to “clear Rafah of terror,” referencing Hamas forces believed to be hiding in the area.
As reported by Fox News Digital, the ceasefire created a new landscape of militias, clan groups and networks as Hamas’ control weakened throughout the region, including the Popular Forces in Rafah.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“The situation is very fragile and unstable as long as Hamas is able to operate freely in Gaza,” Michael added.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the IDF and Israeli government for comment.
Putin questions US pressure on India’s Russian oil purchases as Modi gives the Russian president a warm welcome.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has questioned Washington’s stance on India’s oil purchases from Moscow, pointing to US imports of Russian nuclear fuel as he began a state visit aimed at strengthening ties between the two nations.
Putin arrived in New Delhi on Thursday evening to a warm airport reception from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who embraced the Russian leader in a rare gesture that underscored their personal rapport.
list of 3 itemsend of listRecommended Stories
The visit comes as India faces mounting pressure from US President Donald Trump, who has imposed punitive tariffs on Indian goods over New Delhi’s purchases of discounted Russian crude.
In an interview with Indian broadcasters before his arrival, Putin questioned the logic behind Washington’s criticism.
“The United States itself still buys nuclear fuel from us for its own nuclear power plants,” he said, adding that if the US has the right to buy Russian fuel, India should enjoy “the same privilege”.
Modi posted on social media that he was “delighted to welcome my friend, President Putin to India,” calling their relationship “a time tested one that has greatly benefitted our people”.
After embracing on the tarmac, the two drove together to a private dinner at Modi’s residence.
Delighted to welcome my friend, President Putin to India. Looking forward to our interactions later this evening and tomorrow. India-Russia friendship is a time tested one that has greatly benefitted our people.@KremlinRussia_E pic.twitter.com/L7IORzRfV9
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 4, 2025
Al Jazeera’s Neha Poonia, reporting from New Delhi, said the reception sent a clear message.
“Experts say that the warm reception for President Putin [shows] that he is not a pariah, that there are countries that will accept him despite pressure from western nations,” over Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, she said, adding that Modi wanted to signal “he won’t give into pressure from Donald Trump.”
Putin defended the energy relationship, telling Indian media that cooperation with India “remains unaffected by political swings or the tragic events in Ukraine”.
He accused unnamed actors of seeking to “constrain India for political reasons” due to its growing international role.
The visit highlights India’s delicate balancing act between Moscow and Washington. India’s oil imports from Russia surged from just 2.5 percent of total crude purchases before 2022 to nearly 36 percent currently, making it the world’s second-largest buyer of Russian oil.
🇷🇺🇮🇳 President Vladimir #Putin has arrived in India for a two-day state visit.
The Russian leader received a warm personal welcome from Prime Minister @narendramodi.#DruzhbaDosti pic.twitter.com/jUeufbIdCv
— MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) December 4, 2025
Indian refiners have saved approximately $12.20 per barrel by purchasing discounted Russian crude.
However, Trump has imposed 50 percent tariffs on Indian goods in retaliation, and recent US sanctions on major Russian oil producers have begun forcing Indian refiners to reduce purchases.
Reliance, India’s largest private refiner, has already announced it will stop exporting petroleum products made from Russian crude.
On Friday, Putin and Modi are expected to hold formal summit talks and announce agreements spanning defence cooperation, shipping, healthcare and labour mobility.
Russia is pushing to sell India additional S-400 missile defence systems and Su-57 stealth fighter jets, while both sides aim to reach $100bn in bilateral trade by 2030, though the target now appears distant as oil imports decline.
The ‘People’s Proposal’ encourages ILEA to prioritize voice and choice for Indianapolis Public Schools
Malkin has 3 points, Penguins hold off Lightning | NHL.com
Watchdog for Augusta spending ethics approved by charter committee
Host your event
Cavs vs Spurs: How to watch, odds, and injury report
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
Ex–New York State official accused of spying for China called Hochul ‘more obedient’ than Cuomo, trial reveals
Putin challenges US pressure on India over Russian oil during state visit
Speaker Johnson pleads with Republicans to keep concerns private after tumultuous week
Video: New Footage Shows Epstein’s Private Island Home
RFK Jr launches investigation into school for alleged vaccination of child without parental consent
-
Politics2 days agoTrump rips Somali community as federal agents reportedly eye Minnesota enforcement sweep
-
News2 days agoTrump threatens strikes on any country he claims makes drugs for US
-
World2 days agoHonduras election council member accuses colleague of ‘intimidation’
-
Technology1 week agoNew scam sends fake Microsoft 365 login pages
-
Politics1 week agoRep. Swalwell’s suit alleges abuse of power, adds to scrutiny of Trump official’s mortgage probes
-
Ohio16 hours agoWho do the Ohio State Buckeyes hire as the next offensive coordinator?
-
Ohio1 week agoSnow set to surge across Northeast Ohio, threatening Thanksgiving travel
-
Business1 week agoStruggling Six Flags names new CEO. What does that mean for Knott’s and Magic Mountain?