Siege of Gaza City
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 | This article documents an ongoing military siege. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (October 2023) |
| Siege of Gaza City | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the 2023 Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip and the 2023 Israel–Hamas war | |||||||
Current extent of the Israeli invasion of Gaza
Areas inside Gaza Strip ordered to be evacuated by Israel | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Israel |
 Hamas Palestinian Islamic Jihad | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Benjamin Netanyahu Yoav Gallant Salman Habaka † |
Yahya Sinwar Mohammed Deif | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
 Israel Defense Forces |
Al-Qassam Brigades Al-Quds Brigades | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 29 soldiers killed | At least 40 civilians killed | ||||||
The siege of Gaza City began on 2 November 2023, when Israel Defense Forces (IDF) surrounded Gaza City.[1] The siege is part of the ongoing Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip, which was a counterattack to the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. Gaza City is the most populated city in the Gaza Strip and the battle started on 30 October 2023, when Israel and Hamas clashed in Gaza City.[2] According to Oxfam, there are about 500,000 Palestinians, along with 200 Israelis and other captives, currently trapped in a "siege within a siege" in northern Gaza.[3]
Siege
On 2 November, Israeli troops encircled Gaza city as the Palestinian death toll rose above 9,000. Israeli troops have met fierce resistance upon advancing towards the gates of Gaza city. Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad fighters left their tunnels to fire at incoming Israeli tanks, before heading back into their large underground network. The Israeli military reported to have lost the commander of its 53rd battalion in the battle, Lieutenant-Colonel Salman Habaka, who was believed to be the most senior Israeli officer killed since Israeli ground operations in the Gaza strip began on 27 October. This guerilla-style combat has forced Israel into a ground war instead of relying on its powerful airforce to hit Hamas hideouts from above.[4]
Israel acknowledged that that Hamas was "well-prepared" for the battle, claiming that there were "minefields and booby traps" that hindered access to the city. A resident of Gaza City reported that Israel shelled the city throughout the whole night but still could not advance through city limits.[4] The Israel Defense Forces published the names of five soldiers who were killed during combat on 2 November, raising the total number of Israeli soldiers killed since the invasion of the Gaza Strip to 24.[5]
An Israeli airstrike destroyed a residential building in Bureij refugee camp south of Gaza city, killing at least 15 and burying dozens more under rubble. The airstrike took place in the southern zone of the Gaza Strip, which Israel had ordered residents of northern Gaza to evacuate to on 13 October. On the same day, Israeli airstrikes bombed an area of apartment towers in the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood, just 100 meters away from Al-Quds Hospital, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society.[6]
On 3 November, an Israeli drone missile targeted a medical convoy of ambulances that were carrying 15–20 critically wounded patients near the front gate of Al-Shifa Hospital, who were leaving to the Rafah Border Crossing with Egypt to seek treatment abroad.[7] Israel claimed to have lost 18 soldiers and killed dozens of militants on 3 November.[8]
On 4 November, Israeli forces bombed the UN-run al-Fakhoora school in Jabalia refugee camp, which had been sheltering displaced people, killing at least 15 people and wounding 54, mostly women and children. Israel had also targeted solar panels and generators, including solar panels on top of hospitals. These were the only source of electricity in Gaza since Israel imposed a total blockade on the Gaza Strip on 9 October. The Israeli army had bombed the Ali bin Abi Talib and Al-Istijabah mosques in al-Sabra neighborhood.[9] Hamas' Al-Qassam Brigades said that their fighters have killed 5 more Israeli soldiers in a building northwest of Gaza City, after attacking the force with machine guns and bombs.[10]
Reactions
Israel: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had previously rejected calls for a ceasefire, announced "We are advancing... Nothing will stop us" and vowed to destroy Hamas rule in the Gaza Strip.[6]
Hamas: Al-Qassam spokesman Abu Obeida said that Israel's death toll in Gaza was much higher than the military had announced, and stated "Your soldiers will return in black bags."[8]
Hezbollah: Secretary-General of Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah warned the United States in a speech that preventing a regional conflict depended on ending the Israeli bombardments of Gaza, and threatened that the clashes along the Israel-Lebanon border could escalate into a full-scale war. He also hinted that Hezbollah was ready to confront US warships in the Eastern Mediterranean.[11]
United Nations: High commissioner of the UN expressed concern that Israel's "disproportionate attacks... could amount to war crimes."[4] UN human rights chief Volker Turk said that the Israeli sieges are illegal under international law.[8]
United States: US President Joe Biden said "I think we need a pause" in a speech.[4]
Russia: Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized those who remain silent amid the escalating suffering and expressed that only individuals with a ‘heart of stone’ could remain indifferent, particularly to the plight of the children in the region.[12]
Algeria: The Algerian parliament unanimously voted to authorize President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to militarily enter the war in support of Palestine with a 100% vote. Algeria is the second Arab country that looks to enter the war against Israel, following the Houthi's declaration of war on Israel two days prior.[13]
United Arab Emirates: The UAE warned that there was a risk of a regional spillover from the war in Gaza. It claimed that it was working "relentlessly" to secure a humanitarian ceasefire.[14]
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia announced a government campaign to collect humanitarian aid for Gaza, which gathered more than 60,000 donations worth $17 million in its first few hours. King Salman donated $8 million, while Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman donated around $5.3 million. Saudi officials issued statements condemning the Israeli bombardment of Gaza, urgently pleading for a ceasefire and calling for the establishment of a Palestinian state.[15]
Oman: The foreign ministry of Oman demanded the establishment of an international court to investigate war crimes committed by Israel in Gaza. The ministry also called for "the prosecution of war criminals in all the massacres committed" and condemned the attacks on two schools sheltering civilians, the entrance of a hospital and a public water tank in the past 24 hours.[9]
Turkey: Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that he was breaking off contact with Benjamin Netanyahu due to Israel's actions in Gaza. Erdogan stated "Netanyahu is no longer someone we can talk to. We have written him off."[9]
Honduras: Honduran president Xiomara Castro recalled its ambassador due to "the grave humanitarian situation the Palestinian civilian population suffers in the Gaza Strip." The Israeli foreign ministry criticized this decision and said the move ignores Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas.[9]
Qatar: The Qatari foreign ministry strongly condemned the Israeli bombing of al-Fakhoora school and hospitals in Gaza.[10]
See also
References
- ^ "IDF chief: Israeli forces have Gaza city surrounded". The Jerusalem Post. 2 November 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
- ^ "Live Updates: US boosts military presence in Red Sea as Rafah opens, Israel deepens Gaza incursion – Al-Monitor: Independent, trusted coverage of the Middle East". Al-Monitor. 2 November 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
- ^ Najjar, Farah; Stepansky, Joseph (3 November 2023). "Israeli strike hits medical convoy at Gaza hospital gate, officials say". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Israel's army meets fierce resistance 'at the gates of Gaza City'". Al Jazeera. 2 November 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
- ^ "Five Additional Israeli Soldiers Killed in Gaza Ground Operation". Haaretz. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
- ^ a b Shurafa, Wafaa; Jeffery, Jack; Keath, Lee (2 November 2023). "Israeli troops advance toward Gaza City as the Palestinian death toll rises above 9,000". Associated Press. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
- ^ Mohamed, Mersiha Gadzo,Virginia Pietromarchi,Edna. "Israeli attack hits medical convoy at Gaza hospital gate, officials say". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c Al-Mughrabi, Nidal; Williams, Dan; Al-Mughrabi, Nidal (2 November 2023). "Israel says it has encircled Gaza City". Reuters. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
- ^ a b c d Pietromarchi, Mersiha Gadzo,Virginia. "'Last nail in the coffin': Israel bombs Gaza schools, mosques, solar panels". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Pietromarchi, Mersiha Gadzo,Virginia. "New Israeli attack on Gaza school sheltering families kills 15". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Netanyahu rejects Gaza ceasefire as Hezbollah warns of wider war – live". The Independent. 3 November 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
- ^ Correspondents, B. N. N. (3 November 2023). "Putin Criticises Silence Over Gaza Crisis Amidst Global Concerns". BNN Breaking. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
- ^ "Algerian parliament unanimously votes to support Palestine militarily". The Cradle. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
- ^ Cornwell, Alexander (3 November 2023). "UAE warns against risk of regional spillover from Gaza war". Reuters. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
- ^ Nereim, Vivian (2 November 2023). "Saudi Arabia Begins Aid Effort for Gaza and Raises $17 Million in Hours". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
