Smoke rises following Israeli strikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on May 18, 2024. (Photo/Khaled Omar, Xinhua)

Jerusalem - The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has reduced its troops in the southernmost Gazan city of Rafah, with the Givati infantry brigade withdrawing Saturday night from the eastern part of the city, the Israeli news website Ynet reported Sunday.

The reduction in forces came after the International Court of Justice on Friday ordered Israel to stop the military offensive in Rafah and to allow the opening of the Rafah crossing on the Egypt-Gaza Strip border.

According to the report, the Israeli army explained that the move aims to refresh the forces and help them return to fitness.

At the same time, the IDF said in a statement that the Armored Corps' 162nd Division in the Rafah area killed militants who tried to attack the Israeli forces, and found shafts and many weapons.

The IDF added that the armored 679th Brigade killed militants in the central Gaza Strip, while the fighters of the armored 460th Brigade raided a warehouse in a school in Jabalia city in the northern Strip and found dozens of rocket components and weapons.

In addition, the Israeli Air Force destroyed more than 50 targets throughout the Strip, including military buildings, ammunition depots, rocket launchers, and observation posts, according to the IDF.