The Israeli military said on Monday that its ground forces carried out limited strikes in Gaza and that the airstrikes targeted Palestinian militants who had gathered to repel any larger Israeli invasion, as each side prepares for the next phase of the war.
The Palestinian group Hamas said Sunday that its fighters faced an armored force that infiltrated an area south of Gaza and destroyed some Israeli military equipment before returning to base. There has been no Israeli comment on these losses.
It is unclear when Israel might launch a full-scale invasion, and neither side knows exactly what to expect when that happens. The Middle East’s most powerful army faces a group that has built a powerful arsenal with Iran’s help, fighting in a crowded urban environment and using a vast network of tunnels that it built and that Israeli troops have nicknamed the “Gaza Metro”.
In a televised briefing outlining Israel’s latest actions on the ground, Israel’s chief military spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, also said that 222 people were confirmed as hostages in Hamas’ cross-border attack on October 7.
“Overnight there were attacks by tanks and infantry forces. These attacks are attacks that kill squads of terrorists who are preparing for the next phase of the war,” he said, describing the raids that went “in depth” in Gaza.
“These raids also locate and seek any information we can obtain on the missing and hostages.”
Hagari said these interventions helped understand where “terrorists are gathering, terrorists are organizing in anticipation of the next stages of the war. And our role is to reduce these threats.”
Fueling expectations of a large-scale ground offensive by Israeli forces massed around Gaza, he said the army’s operational readiness was improving and being strengthened “continuously.”
The Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said in a statement on Sunday that their forces engaged an infiltrated force east of Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
“The fighters engaged the infiltrating forces, destroying two bulldozers and a tank and forcing the forces to retreat, before returning safely to base,” the statement said.
INCONCLUSIVE WARS
Since Hamas’ cross-border attacks on Israeli communities on October 7 killed 1,400 people, Israel has massed tanks and troops near the fenced border around Gaza for a ground invasion. Israel has already launched intense airstrikes on Gaza, where at least 4,600 people have been killed.
Israel says it wants to eliminate Hamas “from the face of the earth” after several inconclusive wars since the group took power in the enclave in 2007, after Israel withdrew its forces from the narrow strip of land in 2005.
The Israeli military said on Monday it had struck more than 320 targets in Gaza in the past 24 hours, including a tunnel housing Hamas fighters and command and lookout posts.
Israel has said its military campaign will surpass any previous action against Hamas, but the Palestinian group has proven capable of surprising Israel in the past and will fight in a dense urban environment with powerful weapons.
Based on what happened in Israeli incursions in 2008 and 2014, Israel’s bunker-busting bombs and high-tech Merkava tanks will face a vast network of deep tunnels, traps and weapons, including manufactured Kornet anti-tank missiles Russian.
Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
