Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip
2023 Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war | |||||||
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. | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
Israel | |||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| |||||||
Units involved | |||||||
Strength | |||||||
20,000 inside Gaza Strip as of 31 October[14] | Al-Qassam Brigades: 20,000-40,000[15] | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
Per Israel: Per Hamas: | Unknown |
On the evening of 27 October 2023, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a large-scale invasion[21][22] inside the Gaza Strip, as part of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, with the stated intent to "destroy" Hamas and overthrow it.[8]
Background
After Hamas militants invaded Israel on 7 October 2023, Israel declared war against Hamas.[23] Israel moved to mobilize 300,000 reservists and began to move armor close to the border with the Gaza Strip in the aftermath.[24][25] Included in the amassing of armor were Namer armored personnel carriers and Merkava tanks.[25]
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.[26][27] The IDF had urged around 1.1 million civilians to leave North Gaza so they would not be hurt or caught in crossfire,[28] 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.[27] Israel had dropped leaflets in Gaza City containing the evacuation order, in addition to electronic communications.[29]
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."[30][31]
Raids inside Gaza
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[32] and to rescue hostages that had been abducted to Gaza by Hamas.[32][33] 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.[34][35] The IDF confirmed the same day that Israeli remains were located and retrieved in the Gaza Strip.[36]
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,[2] including tanks, other vehicles and IDF Caterpillar D9 armored bulldozers.[37] A followup raid took place the next night in the Shuja'iyya neighborhood of Gaza City.[38]
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.[39] The assault came amid a series of large-scale Israeli airstrikes that cut off mobile communications and internet access in Gaza.[40] Shayetet 13, a commando unit of the Israeli Navy, carried out a strike on Hamas naval forces overnight.[11]
On 28 October, Israel said that the units deployed inside the Gaza Strip the previous night were still on the ground, which marked the beginning of the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip.[41] The IDF announced it is "expanding ground operations" in the Gaza Strip.[42] 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".[43]
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.[44]
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.[45][46] 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."[47] 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."[48] A kidnapped IDF private was freed the same day in an operation headed by the IDF, with assistance from Shin Bet and Mossad.[49] 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.[13]
On 1 November, IDF reported the deaths of 16 soldiers, 15 killed inside Gaza and one outside Palestinian territory.[50]
On 2 November, IDF had completely surrounded Gaza City, which began the siege of Gaza City.[51][52] Hamas showed footage of the destruction of a Israeli Merkava tank after its fighters used a Al-Yassin-105mm shell to neutralize the Trophy protection system.[53]
On 5 November, IDF reported the death of 29 soldiers and one severely wounded, during the fighting in the Gaza Strip.[54]
On 11 November four IDF officers including a Major General were killed and other four were wounded after a explosion inside a tunnel near Beit Hanoun. All casualties were from the 697th battalion of the 551st Reserve Brigade Arrows of Fire.[55] Among the dead was Matan Meir executive producer of the Israeli television series Fauda.[56]
Israeli strategy
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.[57]
Even after Israeli troops entered the Gaza Strip and began 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.[58] The United States has urged Israel to avoid a full-scale invasion and instead conduct "surgical" operations to avoid casualties and a regional escalation.[59] Israeli military sources say there are over 20,000 troops of the IDF in Gaza as of 31 October.[60]
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel will have overall security responsibility over the Gaza Strip for an indefinite period following the war.[61] President of the European Commission Von der Leyen states that there should not be a long-term Israeli security presence in Gaza and mentions as a possibility, a UN mandated peace force,[62] while US President Joe Biden has said "When this crisis is over, there has to be a vision of what comes next, and in our view it has to be a two-state solution".[63] On 11 November, Netanyahu widened the split with the US over postwar governance, saying that he was against the Palestinian Authority having a role there.[64]
Reactions
Iran
According to Al Jazeera English, 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".[65]
United States
In an interview that aired on 15 October, US President Joe Biden said it would be a "big mistake" for Israel, which is preparing for a ground attack on Gaza in pursuit of Hamas, to reoccupy the 25-mile stretch of territory.[66] U.S. officials said the Biden administration advised Israel to delay the ground invasion of Gaza to allow more time for hostage negotiations.[67]
Former CIA director David Petraeus warned that a ground offensive in Gaza "could be Mogadishu on steroids very quickly."[68]
Egypt
On 25 October, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi warned that a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip would cause "many, many civilian casualties".[69]
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.[70]
Israeli public
On 19 October, a poll by the Israeli newspaper Maariv found that 65% of Israelis supported a ground invasion and 21% opposed it.[71][72] In comparison, according to a poll conducted for Israel's Maariv newspaper on 25 and 26 October, only 29% of Israelis supported an immediate large-scale ground offensive into the Gaza Strip. Maariv said that "It is almost certain that the developments on the matter of the hostages, which is now topping the agenda, have had a great impact on this shift."[73]
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, that represents the families of kidnapped Israelis, complained that no-one had explained "whether the ground operation endangers the well-being of the 229 hostages".[74]
See also
- Outline of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war
- List of military engagements during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war
- Timeline of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war
- October 2023 Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip
- United States support for Israel in the 2023 Israel–Hamas war
- 2005 Israeli disengagement from Gaza
- Population statistics for Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip
Notes
- ^ Temporary raids ongoing since 13 October
References
- ^ a b c d e Reals, Tucker (31 October 2023). "Israel says it's killed a Hamas commander involved in Oct. 7 attacks. Who else is Israel targeting in Gaza?". CBS News. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b "Palestinians report heavy fighting around Gaza's Shifa Hospital, as IDF closes in". The Times of Israel. 10 November 2023. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ^ name=toi10nov
- ^ www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-november-13-2023
- ^ "IDF soldiers raise Israeli flag in northern Gaza". The Jerusalem Post. 29 October 2023. Archived from the original on 29 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/gaza-news/article-772803
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Shurafa, Wafaa; Mroue, Bassem (11 November 2023). "Netanyahu rejects growing calls for a cease-fire as Israel battles Hamas outside main Gaza hospital". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023.
At least 1,200 people have been killed in Israel, mainly in the initial Hamas attack, Israeli officials say. The military on Saturday confirmed the deaths of five reserve soldiers; 46 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the ground offensive began.
- ^ Fabian, Emanuel. "IDF publishes footage of elite search and rescue unit extracting wounded troops from Gaza". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 3 November 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
- ^ "Israeli army retreats from northern Gaza". Archived from the original on 6 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
- ^ "Hamas wants 'prisoner exchange deal' for hostages: Spokesperson". ABC News. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ^ "Al-Qassam Brigades claims it destroyed 136 Israeli military vehicles since ground operations started". Archived from the original on 9 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "'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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Maps: Tracking the Attacks in Israel and Gaza". The New York Times. 2 November 2023. Archived from the original on 3 November 2023.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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
- ^ "Video seems to show Hamas fighter running up to an Israeli tank, planting an explosive on it, then shooting it". Bussines Insider. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
- ^ Fabian, Emanuel (5 November 2023). "IDF announces death of Sgt. Yehonatan Maimon in Gaza, raising ground op toll to 29". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023.
- ^ Ynet, כתבי (11 November 2023). "אסון בקרב בבית חאנון: קצין ו-3 לוחמים נהרגו מפיר ממולכד ליד מסגד, 4 נפצעו קשה ואנוש". Ytnews.com. Archived from the original on 12 November 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ^ "Fauda's Executive Producer Matan Meir Killed in Gaza". 12 November 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Holmes, Oliver (7 November 2023). "Netanyahu says Israel will have 'overall security responsibility' in Gaza after war". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 7 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ^ "'Hamas Cannot Govern Gaza:' EU Chief Presents Roadmap for After Israel-Hamas War". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 6 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ^ Shotter, James; Schwartz, Felicia (4 November 2023). "US shifts focus on Gaza to what follows an end to the war". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ^ https://www.ft.com/content/c8d52c00-90c4-4a9e-9251-34a8d1e9bc80
- ^ Motamedi, Maziar (15 October 2023). "Iran warns Israel of regional escalation if Gaza ground offensive launched". Al Jazeera English. Archived from the original on 15 October 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
- ^ "US warns Iran against escalating Israel-Hamas war into regional conflict". Financial Times. 16 October 2023. Archived from the original on 15 October 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ "US seeks delay of Israeli ground incursion for more time for hostage talks". CNN. 22 October 2023. Archived from the original on 2 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
- ^ "Gaza ground war could be 'Mogadishu on steroids,' says former US General Petraeus". Politico. 19 October 2023. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
- ^ "'Massive' Israel ground op in Gaza would be 'an error': Macron". France 24. 25 October 2023. Archived from the original on 1 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Israelis feel abandoned by Netanyahu after October". Vox. 21 October 2023. Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
- ^ "Poll: 80% of Israelis say Netanyahu must publicly take responsibility for Oct. 7 failures". The Times of Israel. 20 October 2023. Archived from the original on 23 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
- ^ "Israelis hesitant over Gaza ground invasion amid hostage fears, poll shows". The Guardian. 27 October 2023. Archived from the original on 3 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
- ^ "Netanyahu meets Israeli hostages' families anxious over Gaza war plans". BBC News. 28 October 2023. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.