Israel's Escalation on Gaza City: A Comprehensive Look at the Conflict
Israel has escalated its military campaign on Gaza City, claiming to have penetrated the heart of the besieged enclave The fighting is intense and complex, with a dire humanitarian situation The international community is closely monitoring and expressing concerns
Israel's military has successfully divided Gaza by conducting ground operations and intense airstrikes primarily in the northern region. As a result, numerous Palestinians have been compelled to flee towards the southern area by foot in order to seek safety from the ongoing conflict. The primary objective of Israel's military campaign is to eradicate the Palestinian militant organization Hamas and rescue over 240 hostages who were taken during their brutal attack on October 7, resulting in the tragic loss of over 1,400 lives.
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah, which relies on sources within the Hamas-controlled territory, the ongoing offensive has resulted in the death of over 10,700 Palestinians. A continuous flow of Palestinians, including women, children, and the elderly, is heading south as part of a growing exodus facilitated by daily evacuation corridors established by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
There is an increasing urgency for global intervention to stop the fighting, with hopes of easing the humanitarian crisis. More than half of Gaza's two million civilians have been forced to leave their homes. The scarcity of basic necessities such as food, water, fuel, and medical supplies is becoming critical. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the majority of hospitals have ceased operating.
The complexity of urban warfare in Gaza City has increased, as Israeli troops face the challenge of dealing with Hamas' intricate tunnel network and the constant threat of ambushes. Recent propaganda videos released by Hamas and analyzed by CNN provide a clear picture of the rapid evolution of the fighting.
What is Israels strategy?
According to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, the IDF soldiers are currently positioned in the core of Gaza City. They are strategically intensifying their grip on the urban hub located in the northern part of the territory. Their primary focus is to neutralize and dismantle Hamas' infrastructure and high-ranking members operating within.
The Israeli soldiers, according to Gallant, orchestrated a coordinated attack with the air force and navy by infiltrating from the north and south.
For the past two weeks, the IDF has been advancing on three fronts into Gaza. They have deployed troops from the northwest border along the Mediterranean coast, from the northeast near Beit Hanoun, and from east to west, along the southern part of Gaza City towards the coast. Their objective is to divide the strip by creating a divide through its center.
Gaza City, central Gaza Strip, witnessed a distressing incident on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023, as wounded Palestinians were admitted to al-Shifa hospital after being transferred from al-Ahli hospital. The explosion at al-Ahli hospital resulted in the tragic loss of hundreds of lives. The Hamas-run Health Ministry blames an Israeli airstrike for the incident, while the Israeli military maintains that it was a misfired Palestinian rocket. (AP Photo/Abed Khaled)
Abed Khaled/AP
These charts show the scale of loss in the Israel-Hamas war
The IDF spokesperson informed CNN on Monday that the Israeli military had advanced towards Gaza City. According to him, the military had surrounded the city after reaching Gazas coast on Sunday.
Gallant, asserting that the entire city served as a major terrorist stronghold, added that there were extensive underground tunnel networks connecting hospitals and schools. He emphasized their ongoing efforts to neutralize this capability.
Danny Orbach, a military historian at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, characterizes the IDF's approach as centered around isolating and eradicating their adversaries.
According to Orbach, the objective is not solely inflicting punishment or causing pain to the enemy but rather preventing them from having access to capabilities. Destroying the enemy as a cohesive military force is deemed the most effective means of achieving this goal, as highlighted in Orbach's statements to CNN.
Where is fighting taking place?
"In my opinion, the IDF's initial strategy will involve isolating specific areas within the Gaza Strip, followed by focusing its resources on the key gravity centers," he explained. "Their primary objective is to first isolate Gaza City from both the north and the south, in order to concentrate their forces effectively. This approach represents the most direct and straightforward course of action."
The IDF has claimed for weeks that they have been focusing on demolishing Hamas' extensive tunnel network throughout Gaza. However, the videos indicate that this has not completely hindered Hamas' capability to launch attacks.
CNN has successfully geolocated several confrontations captured in the footage, which was released following the commencement of the ground incursion. These clashes primarily occurred in three main areas: the Al-Shati Refugee camp, Atatra, and Beit Hanoun. In these locations, fighters can be observed executing ambush attacks against IDF soldiers.
The outcome of the Hamas attacks depicted is unclear from the videos, which are heavily edited.
Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Thursday.
Ali Jadallah/Anadolu/Getty Images
Hamas claimed that the videos were recorded on November 2, 3, 5, and 6. However, CNN's analysis was unable to verify the exact dates of the video footage.
After closely examining the videos, CNN military analyst and former US Lieutenant General Mark Hertling suggested that Hamas may have been employing shape-charge rocket-propelled grenades. These weapons have the capability to cause significant damage to certain military vehicles, particularly armored personnel carriers.
An undisclosed number of Israeli military vehicles disabled or destroyed during the ground invasion will not be commented on by an IDF spokesperson, who cites "operational security considerations."
How complicated is Israels offensive?
Revised
Dismantling the tunnels of Hamas will pose a significant challenge for IDF troops. The intricate network is believed to offer the militants a way to maneuver through Gaza City and transport ammunition and supplies undetected.
"There are hundreds of kilometers of tunnels. These are not crawl-in tunnels, but rather, elaborately constructed tunnels equipped with electricity and lighting," explained Miri Eisin, a retired IDF colonel with expertise in military intelligence, during an interview with CNN.
Experts suggested that the tunnel system's complexity, combined with the challenges of using GPS devices within them, grants Hamas fighters a substantial strategic edge over IDF forces. According to Eisin, the defenses encompass more than just the extensive tunnels; they include booby traps, snipers, suicide bombs, anti-tank missiles, and various other prepared capabilities as safeguards against an IDF offensive.
Hamas fighters can exploit the destruction caused by Israeli military strikes, using it as a hiding place to carry out surprise attacks. Hertling emphasized that preventing these ambushes would be akin to playing whack-a-mole unless the IDF successfully eliminates all tunnel complexes, openings, and shafts.
"It will require several months to accomplish that," he added, highlighting that clearing operations cannot be conducted using vehicles.
What is the humanitarian situation?
Tens of thousands of people have trekked on foot from northern Gaza to the southern regions through temporary evacuation corridors, according to UN and Israeli figures.
"We witnessed the heartbreaking sight of lifeless bodies strewn across the path as we walked. Alongside us, tanks stood ominously. The Israeli forces summoned us, demanding that we strip ourselves of clothing and discard our possessions," recounted Baraa, a young girl of 16, describing the grueling journey. Exhaustion had taken a toll on the children, who suffered greatly due to the scarcity of water," Baraa revealed.
CNN reached out to the IDF to inquire about the claim that evacuees were coerced into removing clothing and abandoning their belongings.
Palestinians flee to the southern Gaza Strip via Salah al-Din Street on Wednesday.
Hatem Moussa/AP
Nothing is left: Thousands of Palestinians flee south as Israel steps up Gaza City offensive
After enduring weeks of a humanitarian crisis within the city, the act of escaping has proven to be a deeply distressing experience.
According to Hani Bakhit, a man who found himself on the evacuation route on Wednesday, they were subjected to intense shelling, leaving them no option but to flee their area. Incredibly, they had to resort to using donkey carts as there were no cars, fuel, or even drinking water accessible to them. Bakhit solemnly remarked, "We have been left with nothing. They compelled us to leave by severing all available resources," referring to the Israeli forces.
The IDF has urged civilians to relocate to the southern region of Wadi Gaza, a central waterway in the strip, while intensifying their offensive in northern Gaza. South of Wadi Gaza, aid workers from the UN agency for Palestinian refugees are distributing water and biscuits to those who have been evacuated.
Palestinians flee north Gaza on Thursday.
Mohammed Salem/Reuters
What is the international community saying?
Both Hamas and Israel have been accused of committing war crimes over the past month by the United Nations human rights chief. Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated that Israel's collective punishment of Palestinian civilians and the unlawful forcible evacuation of civilians are considered war crimes.
The Israeli military's alleged targeting of an ambulance outside Gaza's largest hospital is being urged by Human Rights Watch (HRW) as a potential war crime. Israel claims the ambulance was being utilized by Hamas, but HRW has conducted interviews and examined visual evidence of the damaged ambulance and its surroundings, finding no proof of its military usage.
The IDF informed CNN that Hamas has a proven pattern of operating in close proximity to or within densely populated areas. The IDF ensures that they take necessary precautions to minimize harm to civilians and property, ensuring that incidental damage is proportionate to the military advantage sought. Reporting was contributed by Adi Koplewitz, Tamar Michaelis, Lauren Kent, and Abeer Salman from CNN.
