Israel has indicated that it will move to a new phase of low-intensity fighting with Hamas as it announced plans to pull thousands of troops and tanks out of the Gaza Strip on Monday, even as fighting raged elsewhere accompanied by intense bombardment. An Israeli official said that the military would cut back on troop numbers and shift to a months-long phase of more localised “mopping up” operations.Israel has indicated that it will move to a new phase of low-intensity fighting with Hamas as it announced plans to pull thousands of troops and tanks out of the Gaza Strip on Monday, even as fighting raged elsewhere accompanied by intense bombardment. An Israeli official said that the military would cut back on troop numbers and shift to a months-long phase of more localised “mopping up” operations.