9-11-2023 (GAZA) Tensions escalated in Gaza City as Israeli forces and Hamas militants engaged in intense battles in close proximity, prompting thousands of civilians to flee towards the south on Wednesday to avoid being trapped in the heart of the conflict.
The Israeli military announced that its troops had made significant advances into Gaza City, which serves as Hamas’ main stronghold and is the largest city in the coastal enclave. Meanwhile, Hamas claimed that its fighters had inflicted heavy casualties on the Israeli forces.
On Wednesday, Hamas’ armed wing released a video depicting fierce street clashes amidst the ruins of buildings in Gaza City. Israeli tanks encountered strong resistance from Hamas fighters who utilized underground tunnels for ambushing maneuvers. These tunnels were reportedly used by both Hamas and the Islamic Jihad militant group, which is backed by Iran.
Israel’s military intervention in Gaza was in response to a cross-border raid executed by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7. The raid resulted in the deaths of 1,400 individuals, primarily civilians, and the capture of approximately 240 hostages, according to Israeli reports.
Palestinian officials reported that as of Wednesday, the death toll had reached 10,569, with 40 percent of the victims being children. Israel confirmed the loss of 33 soldiers in the conflict.
One segment of the video released by Hamas showed fighters navigating through piles of debris, launching shoulder-propelled missiles at Israeli tanks. Another clip depicted them firing rifles from behind buildings and dumpsters. The authenticity of the footage could not be independently verified by Reuters.
Saleh al-Arouri, an exiled Hamas commander, stated in an interview with Hamas-affiliated Al-Aqsa TV that while Israeli forces may gain control of certain areas in Gaza, it would not deter the resistance’s fight against soldiers and tanks. He emphasized that Israel’s territorial expansion would only result in greater losses for them.
Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari announced on Wednesday that combat engineers were using explosive devices to destroy Hamas’ extensive tunnel network, which stretches for hundreds of kilometers beneath Gaza. The military reported the destruction of 130 tunnel shafts thus far.
IDF combat engineers are currently working to expose and destroy Hamas terrorist infrastructure in Gaza, including tunnels. Water and oxygen storage discovered inside the tunnels indicates Hamas’ preparations for prolonged stays underground.
130 tunnel entrances have been… pic.twitter.com/McuxQHc1b2
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) November 9, 2023
Israel has accused Hamas of using Gazans as human shields and concealing arms and operational centers within residential areas, thereby holding the group responsible for civilian casualties in Gaza.
As the conflict entered its second month, Israeli troops escorted foreign reporters to the outskirts of Gaza City on Wednesday. Journalists witnessed a devastated landscape where every visible building bore the scars of battle. Walls were demolished, bullet holes and shrapnel marred the facades, and palm trees lay shredded and broken.
Lieutenant Colonel Ido, deputy commander of the 401st Brigade, stated that by the time soldiers reached these buildings, all families had vacated the premises. He asserted that there were no civilians present and only Hamas members remained, standing in a badly damaged children’s bedroom painted pink.
During the window of opportunity announced by Israel on Wednesday, approximately 50,000 Palestinian civilians evacuated the northern areas, according to Rear Admiral Hagari. He stated that they left because they recognized Hamas’ loss of control in the north.
However, thousands of individuals remain trapped in the encircled northern regions, including those seeking refuge at Gaza City’s main Al Shifa hospital. Um Haitham Hejela, a resident sheltering with her young children in an improvised tent, described the worsening conditions, highlighting the scarcity of food and water. Her son, when fetching water, queues for three to four hours.
The Israeli military has continuously urged residents to evacuate the north to avoid becoming trapped in the violence. The displacement of a significant number of people from Gaza’s population of 2.3 million has already resulted in overcrowding in schools, hospitals, and other facilities in the south.
Despite the focus on the north, the central and southern parts of the besieged Palestinian enclave continue to face bombardment.
Palestinian health officials reported that an airstrike hit houses in the Nusseirat refugee camp on Wednesday morning, claiming the lives of 18 people. In Khan Younis, six individuals, including a young girl, were killed in another airstrike.
Witness Mohammed Abu Daqa described the sudden attack that obliterated three adjacent houses, stating that all the victims were civilians, including elderly individuals, and that others were still missing under the rubble.
The international community has expressed growing alarm over the humanitarian toll of Israel’s ongoing offensive. The extent of death and suffering is described as “difficult to comprehend” by Christian Lindmeier, spokesperson for the UN health agency in Geneva.
UN officials and G-7 world powers have intensified their appeals for a humanitarian pause in the conflict to alleviate the suffering of Gaza’s civilians, who are facing shortages of essential supplies such as food, medicine, and fuel.
Negotiations mediated by Qatar, where several Hamas political leaders are based, are underway to secure the release of 10 to 15 hostages in exchange for a one- to two-day humanitarian pause in Gaza, according to a source familiar with the talks.
