Breaking: Israel Launches Ground Operation in Gaza - Insider Updates on Military Movements
Israeli forces launch ground operation in Gaza, crossing the border at three key locations This update is based on verified videos, photos, and on-ground reporting by CNN teams Stay informed with the latest developments
The Israeli army initiated a comprehensive ground operation in Gaza on Friday, deploying tanks, bulldozers, infantrymen, and combat engineer units into the Strip. However, instead of swiftly advancing towards Gaza City, Israeli forces seem to be gradually approaching the principal hub of the enclave's population.
Based on videos, photos, open and official sources, and firsthand reporting from CNN teams on the ground, it seems that Israeli forces have crossed the border at three primary locations.
The initial location is situated in the northwest corner of the strip. In a video released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Saturday morning, bulldozers can be seen forcefully pushing through sand in close proximity to the seashore. A noticeable breach in the perimeter fence is visible, allowing entry for Israeli vehicles into Gaza.
However, additional proof suggests that Israeli forces are also present near the southern coastal area. A video circulated on Sunday depicted Israeli soldiers waving a flag from the rooftop of a resort hotel, with CNN confirming its location to be Atatra, situated approximately two miles south of the perimeter fence.
Furthermore, the Israeli army released photos on Tuesday that revealed soldiers venturing even further into the Strip, near the northern vicinity of the Al Shati refugee camp, commonly known as the Beach refugee camp. This positioning places them a mere three miles or so away from the heart of Gaza City.
Israeli forces appeared to have entered Gaza from the northeastern corner of the Strip near the town of Beit Hanoun, as evidenced by footage and satellite imagery. The Israeli army distributed a video that was geolocated by CNN, showing numerous soldiers advancing on foot across sandy terrain. In another clip, a bulldozer can be seen clearing a path through sandy soil to eliminate the threat of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
The videos depict buildings that have been heavily damaged by Israeli aerial and artillery strikes prior to the ground operation, giving the impression of deserted structures. There is no visible sign of civilians or Hamas militants in the footage, suggesting that they had evacuated or retreated before the arrival of the Israeli military. Nonetheless, a CNN team located just a mile or so away on the Israeli side of the border reported sporadic machine gun fire, along with multiple explosions from the same direction on Tuesday morning.
The CNN team observed a rise in the number of Israeli military vehicles within the area, indicating an expansion of the ground operation by the IDF. Another video, found on Monday, revealed a potential third entrance about 10 miles south along the eastern perimeter. Freelance Palestinian journalist Yousif Al Saifi captured footage of an Israeli tank firing at a car on the main Salah Al Din road, which stretches across the Gaza Strip.
CNN geolocated the video to a location just south of the Netzarim junction. This junction, named after a former Israeli settlement, is considered strategically important by Israel as it allows for the division of the northern and southern parts of Gaza. The junction is located southeast of Gaza City and is in close proximity to Wadi Gaza, the waterway that Israel has urged Gazans to relocate to for safety during Israeli attacks.
