Israel has announced that it will be transitioning from a large-scale ground and air campaign to a more targeted phase in its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. This shift in strategy comes as Israeli officials privately share with their American counterparts their hopes of completing the transition by the end of January, according to U.S. officials.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to visit Israel to urge officials to curtail their campaign in Gaza and prevent the war from escalating across the region. The visit comes in the wake of a recent Israeli strike that killed senior Hamas leaders in Lebanon, and Hezbollah reporting the death of one of its commanders in a strike within the country.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the chief spokesperson for the Israeli military, stated that the new phase will involve fewer troops and airstrikes, with a greater focus on surgical missions by smaller groups of elite Israeli forces. These forces will enter and exit population centers in the Gaza Strip to locate and eliminate Hamas leaders, rescue hostages, and destroy tunnels.

The reduction of Israeli troops in Gaza has already begun, with operations in the northern part of Gaza showing a decrease in intensity as the military concentrates on conducting targeted raids rather than maintaining wide-scale maneuvers. Israel will now turn its attention to Hamas' southern and central strongholds, particularly around Khan Younis and Deir al Balah. Hagari also mentioned that more aid and tents are expected to be allowed into Gaza.

According to U.S. officials, the number of Israeli troops in the northern part of Gaza has dropped to less than half of the approximately 50,000 soldiers present last month during the peak of the campaign. The withdrawal process may be adjusted depending on the resistance encountered from Hamas or any unforeseen threats, potentially leading to a slower pace of withdrawal and continued airstrikes.

President Joe Biden has expressed strong support for Israel's war in Gaza, where the Israeli military, equipped with U.S. weapons, has reportedly killed around 23,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the Gaza health ministry.

To restore and maintain public order in the Gaza Strip as Israeli troops accelerate their withdrawal, Israeli officials have discussed the potential involvement of local mayors, security officials, and influential Palestinian figures as a loose network to provide basic security in their respective areas. Aid groups on the ground would also play a role in the distribution of humanitarian aid and the enforcement of daily order.

Additional proposals for restoring long-term security include retraining members of the Palestinian Authority's security forces, though the timeframe for this process is uncertain, and it remains unclear whether Israel will accept their deployment or how the local population will receive them.

The Biden administration has advocated for a "revamped and revitalized" Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza in the aftermath of the war, seen as a step towards a two-state solution. However, Israeli leaders have largely rejected the idea of the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority administering the Gaza Strip, and many Palestinians view it as corrupt and an extension of Israeli control.

On January 1st, the Israeli military began withdrawing several thousand troops from Gaza, signaling the start of the transition. Secretary of State Blinken, during his visit to the region, will discuss the winding down of the war and explore potential strategies for the functioning of the Gaza Strip in the coming months.