SAEDNEWS: Israeli Media Reveal: Israeli Forces Withdraw from Certain Occupied Areas in Gaza Over Fear of Clashing with ‘Shadow Unit’ Members
According to the political news service of SaedNews, “Israeli army forces have withdrawn from areas where members of the Al-Qassam Brigades’ ‘Shadow’ unit operate in the Gaza Strip. This withdrawal was prompted by concerns over direct clashes with Hamas forces.”
This was revealed by Yedioth Ahronoth, which cited Israeli sources reporting that the Shadow unit accompanied teams from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) during field operations to locate signs of missing Israeli soldier Hadar Goldin. Similar operations were conducted in Khan Yunis to locate another missing soldier, Amiram Kober, utilizing heavy equipment brought in from Egypt.
The Shadow unit is a highly secretive elite team operating within the Al-Qassam Brigades’ security structure. Its primary mission is to protect Israeli captives during conflicts. With advanced training in military tactics, psychological operations, and camouflage skills, the unit has successfully executed missions within the besieged Gaza Strip without leaving any trace.
According to Al Jazeera, the Shadow unit possesses exceptional abilities in covert movement and complex operational scenarios. However, detailed information about its structure and activities remains scarce, as the Al-Qassam Brigades enforce strict information security due to the sensitivity of its missions.
Reports indicate that Israeli forces withdrew from search operation zones—located within their controlled territories behind the “yellow line”—after mediators intervened and requested that no clashes occur with Palestinian resistance forces in the area. Israeli television reported this morning that “Israel has allowed Hamas to search for the hostages’ bodies at multiple points inside the yellow line in Gaza, not just in Rafah.”
Sources confirmed that Red Cross and Al-Qassam teams continue operations in Rafah and Khan Yunis, with limited humanitarian coordination aimed at resolving the missing captives’ case. Hamas representatives met with the Red Cross delegation in the Al-Mawasi area to provide coordinates and information that could potentially lead to the location of the missing Israeli soldier’s body.
Meanwhile, political assessments in Tel Aviv indicate that Netanyahu’s government currently has no intention of taking provocative action against Hamas and is awaiting the results of search efforts over the next 48 hours—a deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump for tangible outcomes.
Despite the agreement reached between Israel and Hamas through regional mediation, the bodies of 13 Israeli captives remain inside Gaza, and search operations in Rafah and Khan Yunis have yet to yield significant results. Khalil al-Hayya, Deputy Head of Hamas’ Political Bureau in Gaza, announced that the movement will soon commence search operations in “new areas,” emphasizing that Hamas remains committed to resolving this humanitarian case while safeguarding Palestinian interests and maintaining existing understandings with mediators.
