Israel’s decision to end “high-intensity” ground operations in the north of the besieged Gaza Strip is a “positive step”, the White House said, Anadolu Agency reports.

“The removal of a full division of army troops from Gaza, we think that’s a positive step forward in terms of getting to lower-intensity ops,” National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters.

“We hope that the removal of these troops and this announced transition that they’ve made will allow for people to flow back into north Gaza and alleviate some of that pressure in the south, particularly around Khan Younis,” he added.

Kirby said the Biden administration is now preparing to increase humanitarian assistance for people in Gaza “as well as to help set the conditions for the population to return to north Gaza, where the UN hopes to be able to conduct an assessment mission over the coming weeks.”