Israel pulls thousands of troops from Gaza as combat focuses on southern city

Thousands of Israeli soldiers are being moved out of the Gaza Strip, the military said on Monday, in the first significant drawdown of troops since the war began (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP)

Thousands of Israeli soldiers are being moved out of the Gaza Strip, the military said on 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.