Jump to content

Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip

Extended-protected article
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Orgullomoore (talk | contribs) at 17:29, 3 November 2023 (fix linebreak). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

2023 Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip
Part of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war

  Gaza Strip
  Evacuated areas inside Israel
  Current extent of the Israeli invasion of Gaza
  Maximum extent of the Hamas invasion of Israel
  Areas inside Gaza Strip ordered to be evacuated by Israel

See here for a more comprehensive map.
Date27 October 2023 – present[a]
(11 months, 3 weeks and 2 days)
Location
Gaza Strip
Status Ongoing
Belligerents
 Israel  Hamas
File:Flag of the Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine.svg Palestinian Islamic Jihad
File:PFLP Infobox Flag.svg Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine
Commanders and leaders
Israel Benjamin Netanyahu
Israel Yoav Gallant
Israel Benny Gantz
Israel Herzl Halevi
Israel Tomer Bar
Israel Ronen Bar		 Hamas Ismail Haniyeh
HamasYahya Sinwar
Hamas Mohammed Deif
Hamas Ibrahim Biari[1][2]
File:Flag of the Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine.svg Ziyad al-Nakhalah
File:PFLP Infobox Flag.svg Abu Jamal
Abu Khaled
Units involved

Israel 162nd Armored Division[3]
Israel 401st Brigade[4]
Israel Golani Brigade[5]
Israel Nahal Brigade[6]

Israeli Air Force[7]
Shayetet 13[8]

Hamas Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades[9]

File:Flag of the Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine.svg Al-Quds Brigades
File:PFLP Infobox Flag.svg Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades
National Resistance Brigades[10]
Strength
20,000 inside Gaza Strip[11] Al-Qassam Brigades: 40,000[12]
Casualties and losses

Per Israel:

Unknown

On the evening of 27 October 2023, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a large scale invasion[15][16] inside the Gaza Strip with the stated intent to "destroy" Hamas and overthrow it.[6]

Background

Main article: 2023 Israel–Hamas war
Further information: Gaza–Israel conflict
See also: October 2023 Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip and Evacuation of the northern Gaza Strip

After Hamas militants invaded Israel on 7 October 2023, Israel declared war against Hamas.[17] Israel moved to mobilize 300,000 reservists and began to move armor close to the border with the Gaza Strip in the aftermath.[18][19] Included in the amassing of armor were Namer armored personnel carriers and Merkava tanks.[19]

Prior to the raids, Israel had called for the more than one million people living in the north half of the Gaza Strip to evacuate during a 24-hour window, while Hamas instructed those residents to stay put.[20][21] The IDF had urged around 1.1 million civilians to leave North Gaza so they would not be hurt or caught in crossfire,[22] and Israeli officials said that the window was left at 24-hours to reduce the time for Hamas to conduct military preparation in the area. However, aid groups stated that the time window was too short to evacuate the one million people, and lack of electricity in Gaza hampered the ability of electronic communications regarding the evacuation to reach Gazans.[21] Israel had dropped leaflets in Gaza City containing the evacuation order, in addition to electronic communications.[23]

On 21 October 2023, the Israeli army dropped more leaflets in Gaza with the message: "Urgent warning! To the residents of Gaza: your presence to the North of Wadi Gaza is putting your lives at risk. Anyone who chooses not to evacuate from the North of the Gaza Strip to the South of the Gaza Strip may be identified as a partner in a terrorist organization."[24][25]

Raids inside Gaza Strip

On 13 October 2023, the Israeli Defense Forces sent armored vehicles and infantry into the Gaza Strip, stating that their goals were to attack Hamas militants[26] and to rescue hostages that had been abducted to Gaza by Hamas.[26][27] The operation, according to Israeli officials, was not part of a larger and widely anticipated ground invasion, but rather a raid in which troops only temporarily enter the Gaza Strip.[28][29] The IDF confirmed the same day that Israeli remains were located and retrieved in the Gaza Strip.[30]

Another raid, headed by the Givati Brigade and the 162nd Armored Division, took place between 25 and 26 October and was the largest offensive so far,[3] including tanks, other vehicles and IDF Caterpillar D9 armored bulldozers.[31] A followup raid took place the next night in the Shuja'iyya neighborhood of Gaza City.[32]

Invasion

On the evening of 27 October, the IDF launched a large-scale ground assault on the towns of Beit Hanoun and Bureij in the Gaza Strip.[33] The assault came amid a series of large-scale Israeli airstrikes that cut off mobile communications and internet access in Gaza.[34] Shayetet 13, a division of the Israeli Navy, carried out a strike on Hamas naval forces overnight.[8]

On 28 October, Israel said that the units deployed inside Gaza Strip the previous night were still on the ground, which marked the beginning of the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip.[35] The IDF announced it is "expanding ground operations" in the Gaza Strip.[36] The Israeli military reissued a call to Gaza residents to evacuate the north as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the "second phase of the war had begun".[37]

The IDF advanced on three fronts: from the northeast near Beit Hanoun, from the northwest near Beit Lahia, and from the east near Juhor ad-Dik.[38]

On 30 October, the IDF blocked the Salah al-Din Road, which is a major thoroughfare connecting the northern and southern parts of the Gaza Strip. Additionally, Israeli tanks were spotted in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City.[39][40] A local resident told AFP that the Israelis "have cut the Salah al-Din road and are firing at any vehicle that tries to go along it."[41] Witnesses reported, and a video showed, an Israeli tank firing on a taxi with a white flag on its roof that had attempted to turn around. An Israeli military spokesman said "The IDF was not shown any proof that this is a civilian car and there's no information on who is inside."[42] A kidnapped IDF private was freed the same day in an operation headed by the IDF, with assistance from Shin Bet and Mossad.[43] On 30 October in northwest Gaza the Al-Qassam Brigades and the DFLP's National Resistance Brigades engaged Israeli forces. Alongside that, the National Resistance Brigades bombarded Israeli vehicles with heavy mortar shells.[10]

On 1 November IDF reported the deaths of 16 soldiers, 15 killed inside Gaza and one outside Palestinian territory.[44]

On 2 November, IDF had completely surrounded Gaza City, which began the siege of Gaza City.[45][46]

Israeli strategy

IDF forces before entering into combat in the Gaza Strip

On 29 October, Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant said he expected the "second stage of the war" to last "months". The following phases are expected to be the removal of small groups of resistance, and, finally, withdrawal from Gaza.[47]

Even after Israeli troops entered the Gaza Strip and bagun to maintain a persistent physical presence in the region beginning on 27 October, Israel's military had adopted a strategy of referring to the invasion as "operations" and "raids" rather than using the term "invasion". According to the Associated Press, this communications strategy was undertaken to preserve operational flexibility and to keep hostile forces guessing as to Israel's military plans.[48] The United States has urged Israel to avoid a full-scale invasion and instead conduct "surgical" operations to avoid casualties and a regional escalation.[49] Israeli military sources say there are over 20,000 members of the IDF in Gaza as of 31 October.[50]

Reactions

Iran

According to Al Jazeera, on 15 October, "Iran warned Israel of regional escalation if the Israeli military enters Gaza for a ground invasion." Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian stated that if efforts to stop Israeli attacks in Gaza fail, it's increasingly likely that "other fronts will be opened".[51]

Saudi Arabia

On 27 October, Saudi officials strongly cautioned the United States that an Israeli ground operation in Gaza could have devastating consequences for the Middle East.[52]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Temporary raids ongoing since 13 October

References

  1. ^ Al-Mughrabi, Nidal; Rose, Emily (31 October 2023). "Israel strikes dense Gaza camp, says it kills Hamas commander". Reuters. Archived from the original on 3 November 2023.
  2. ^ Morris, Loveday (2 November 2023). "Israeli forces push deeper into Gaza as invasion expands, risks multiply". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2 November 2023.
  3. ^ a b Fabian, Emanuel (26 October 2023). "IDF tanks, troops push into Gaza in limited raid ahead of ground offensive". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 26 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  4. ^ "IDF soldiers raise Israeli flag in northern Gaza". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 29 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  5. ^ Fabian, Emanuel (2 November 2023). "Footage emerges from Golani Brigade's battle against dozens of Hamas fighters". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 2 November 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  6. ^ a b Fabian, Emanuel; Bachner, Michael (3 November 2023). "IDF soldiers fend off nighttime Hamas ambush, as battalion commander killed in Gaza". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 2 November 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  7. ^ Frantzman, Seth (30 October 2023). "Israel presses its offensive into Gaza". FDD's Long War Journal. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  8. ^ a b Jaffe-Hoffman, Maayan (27 October 2023). "WATCH: Elite Israeli Navy unit destroys Hamas infrastructure overnight". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 1 November 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  9. ^ "IDF tanks, troops push into Gaza in limited raid ahead of ground offensive". BBC. 28 October 2023. Archived from the original on 29 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  10. ^ a b Carter, Brian; Parry, Andie; Mills, Peter; Moore, Johnanna; Ganzeveld, Annika; Soltani, Amin; Carl, Nicholas (30 October 2023). "Iran Update, October 30, 2023". Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  11. ^ Ravid, Barak; Gottbrath, Laurin-Whitney (31 October 2023). "Inside Israel's mission to attack Hamas, rescue hostages". Axios. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  12. ^ Nakhoul, Samia (13 October 2023). "How Hamas secretly built a 'mini-army' to fight Israel". Reuters. Archived from the original on 13 October 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  13. ^ "IDF discloses 5 more soldiers killed, death toll rises to 25 since Gaza op". i24 News. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  14. ^ Fabian, Emanuel. "IDF publishes footage of elite search and rescue unit extracting wounded troops from Gaza". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  15. ^ "Has Israel invaded Gaza? The military has been vague, even if its objectives are clear". Associated Press. 31 October 2023. Archived from the original on 1 November 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  16. ^ Boxerman, Aaron (1 November 2023). "Israel Confirms Deaths of 15 Soldiers in Ground Invasion of Gaza". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2 November 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  17. ^ Debre, Isabel (13 October 2023). "What to know on the seventh day of the latest Israel-Hamas war". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 12 October 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  18. ^ "Hamas tells Gaza residents to stay put as Israel ground offensive looms". Reuters. 13 October 2023. Archived from the original on 13 October 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  19. ^ a b Sharma, Kadambini; Singh, Umashankar. Mitra, Chandrajit (ed.). "Ground Report: Israeli Tanks Roll Up To Border As Gazans Asked To Move South". NDTV. Archived from the original on 13 October 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  20. ^ "'Only the beginning' says Netanyahu as Israel makes first raids into Gaza". Reuters. 13 October 2023. Archived from the original on 12 October 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  21. ^ a b Ward, Alexander (13 October 2023). "Ground invasion of Gaza 'imminent,' Israeli officials say". Politico. Archived from the original on 13 October 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  22. ^ Askew, Joshua; O'Donoghue, Saskia (13 October 2023). "Israel Hamas war: 1.1m ordered to leave north Gaza as Palestine PM accuses Israel of 'genocide'". Euronews. Archived from the original on 13 October 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  23. ^ Aggarwal, Mithil; Salam, Yasmine (13 October 2023). "Gaza residents, under the threat of a ground invasion, desperately seek safety but their options are dire". NBC News. Archived from the original on 13 October 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  24. ^ "Israeli military steps up warnings to north Gaza residents, preparations for ground offensive". Politico. 21 October 2023. Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  25. ^ "Israel tells Gazans to move south or risk being seen as 'terrorist' partner". Reuters. 22 October 2023. Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  26. ^ a b Fabian, Emanuel (13 October 2023). "IDF: Infantry troops, tanks entered Gaza for 'localized raids' to clear area of terrorists, locate hostages". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 13 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  27. ^ "Israel conducts limited ground raids to rescue hostages in Gaza". Hürriyet Daily News. 23 October 2023. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  28. ^ Fabian, Emanuel (13 October 2023). "IDF launches first 'localized' raids into Gaza ahead of expected ground invasion". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 13 October 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  29. ^ Debre, Isabel; Lederer, Edith M.; Shurafa, Wafaa. "Palestinians flee northern Gaza after Israel orders 1 million to evacuate as ground attack looms". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 13 October 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  30. ^ "IDF 'localized' raids into Gaza said to recover bodies; maps show Hamas killing plans". The Times of Israel. 14 October 2023. Archived from the original on 14 October 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  31. ^ Frantzman, Seth (26 October 2023). "Israel conducts first large scale tank raid into Gaza, repairs fence". FDD's Long War Journal. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  32. ^ Fabian, Emmanuel (27 October 2023). "Israeli troops stage second limited raid into Gaza Strip". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  33. ^ "Israel pummels Gaza with strikes as it expands ground operations". France 24. Agence France-Presse. 27 October 2023. Archived from the original on 28 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  34. ^ Ravid, Barak (28 October 2023). "Israeli military launches major ground incursion in Gaza". Axios. Archived from the original on 28 October 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  35. ^ Mackenzie, James (28 October 2023). "Hamas vows 'full force'; Israel says troops still on the ground in Gaza". Reuters. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  36. ^ "IDF announces expanded ground operation in Gaza, amid communications blackout in the enclave". CNN. 28 October 2023. Archived from the original on 28 October 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  37. ^ "Israel-Gaza latest: War against Hamas in 'next stage'; Netanyahu warns conflict will be 'long and difficult'". Sky News. Archived from the original on 28 October 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  38. ^ "Maps: Tracking the Attacks in Israel and Gaza". The New York Times. 2 November 2023. Archived from the original on 3 November 2023.
  39. ^ "Israeli Tanks On The Edge Of Gaza City, Key Road Cut: Witnesses". Barron's. 30 October 2023. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  40. ^ "Heavy clashes as Israeli tanks reach Gaza City outskirts, cut key road". Al Jazeera English. 30 October 2023. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  41. ^ "Heavy clashes as Israeli tanks reach Gaza City outskirts, cut key road". Al Jazeera. 30 October 2023. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  42. ^ Stancati, Margherita; Lieber, Dov (30 October 2023). "Witness Describes Seeing Israeli Tank Fire on Taxi Southeast of Gaza City". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  43. ^ Turzi, Matan (30 October 2023). "Abducted soldier freed by IDF troops in Gaza". Ynet. Archived from the original on 1 November 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  44. ^ "Israel Army Says 16 Soldiers Killed Since Tuesday". Barron's. 1 November 2023. Archived from the original on 1 November 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  45. ^ Lieber, Dov; Cloud, David S. (2 November 2023). "Israeli Forces Cut Gaza in Two, Isolating North of Besieged Enclave". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 3 November 2023.
  46. ^ Michaelis, Tamar (2 November 2023). "The Israeli military has encircled Gaza City, IDF spokesman says". CNN. Archived from the original on 2 November 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023. The Israeli military has completed its encirclement of Gaza City
  47. ^ Keller-Lynn, Carrie (29 October 2023). "Gallant: Second stage of war may last months, 'pockets of resistance' will remain". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  48. ^ "Has Israel invaded Gaza? The military has been vague, even if its objectives are clear". Associated Press. 31 October 2023. Archived from the original on 1 November 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  49. ^ Irwin, Lauren (27 October 2023). "US pressuring Israel to avoid major ground offensive: Washington Post". The Hill. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  50. ^ Sengupta, Kim (1 November 2023). "More than 20,000 Israeli troops engaged in fierce fighting with Hamas 'deep inside' Gaza". The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 November 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  51. ^ Motamedi, Maziar (15 October 2023). "Iran warns Israel of regional escalation if Gaza ground offensive launched". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 15 October 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  52. ^ Kelly, Kate; Nereim, Vivian; Mazzetti, Mark; Wong, Edward (27 October 2023). "Saudi Arabia Warns U.S.: Israeli Invasion of Gaza Could Be Catastrophic". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 1 November 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Israeli_invasion_of_the_Gaza_Strip&oldid=1183334427"