Israel’s decision to withdraw some troops from Gaza appears to signal the start of a shift to lower-intensity operations in the north of the Palestinian enclave, although there was still fighting going on there, according to a US official.

“This appears to be the start of the gradual shift to lower-intensity operations in the north that we have been encouraging,” the official said, noting the change reflected the success of the Israeli military in dismantling Hamas military capabilities there.

Fighting continued in the north, however, and the revised Israeli tactics did not “reflect any changes in the south”, the official told Reuters.