Israeli tanks have pulled back in parts of northern Gaza, residents said, after the IDF announced plans to withdraw thousands of troops from the enclave.

The move came as the Israeli military stepped up its offensive in the south in the key city of Khan Younis.

Residents of Sheikh Radwan district in Gaza City, in the northern part of the enclave that Israel’s offensive focused on in the initial phase of the war, said IDF tanks had pulled back after what they described as the most intense 10 days of fighting since the conflict began.

Tanks also pulled out of Gaza City’s al-Mina district and parts of Tel al-Hawa district, while retaining some positions in the suburb controlling the enclave’s main coastal road, residents said.

On Monday, Israel announced plans to withdraw thousands of troops from Gaza and shift to a months-long phase of more localised “mopping up” operations.

The United States said the decision appeared to indicate a shift to lower intensity operations in the north of the enclave.

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