Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Daniel Hagari confirmed on 9 January a shift in the military’s large-scale on-ground operations and air campaigns to a more targeted phase in its war on Gaza. In a statement, Hagari said that the new phase involves fewer troops and airstrikes — US officials anticipate the shift to include surgical missions by smaller groups of top Israeli forces to find and kill Hamas leaders, rescue hostages, and destroy tunnels. Hagari indicated that Israel intends on reducing the number of troops in Gaza, a process that began this January, adding that the military has already moved to conducting one-off raids instead of wide-scale maneuvers. “The war shifted a stage,” Hagari said to the New York Times on 9 January. “But the transition will be with no ceremony,” he added. “It’s not about dramatic announcements.” Despite the alleged rein in its campaigns, Israel has committed 12 massacres against Palestinian families, leaving 126 killed and 241 injured in under 24 hours, the Palestinian Ministry of Health reported on 9 January. The ministry added that there are several victims still under the rubble, but ambulances are unable to rescue…
