Israeli minister demands urgent meeting of political-military cabinet

Minister Gideon Sa'ar demanded an urgent convening of the political-military cabinet to discuss the next steps in the war in the Gaza Strip.

Sa'ar criticized the decision to withdraw some troops from the Strip, according to NEWSru.co.il.

"Reducing the intensity of hostilities and withdrawing part of the troops from the Strip in the current situation is a grave mistake. The Cabinet should immediately decide to increase pressure on Hamas. The rocket attack on Netivot is a 'hello' we received from reality," Sa'ar said.

Sa'ar said the change in the nature of military action should be based on progress toward goals, not on a time frame.

The day before, the Israel Defense Forces press office said that on the night of January 15, fighters of the 36th Armored Division withdrew from the Gaza Strip. For 80 days, the division carried out missions in the areas of Zeitoun, Shati, Shuja'iyya, Rimal, as well as in refugee camps in the central part of the enclave.