`The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have completely surrounded Gaza City, the stronghold of Hamas,` Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, IDF spokesman, announced on November 2.
Gaza City, the largest city in the northern Gaza Strip, was besieged after the IDF sent a force of infantry and tanks into the central region of the strip and gradually pushed out towards the Mediterranean coast.
The IDF simultaneously sent troops close to Gaza City from the north, isolating densely populated urban areas here, where their armor and infantry engaged in close-range combat with Hamas.
Israel’s attacks in the Gaza Strip aim to surround Gaza City in the north.
With this move, Israel has created a confrontation with Hamas on the northern and southern fronts.
With the intricate underground tunnel system in Gaza City, Hamas gunmen suddenly appeared, emerged from the tunnels, opened fire on Israeli tanks and armored vehicles, causing the IDF to suffer losses in people and vehicles.
During a press conference on November 1, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that the country’s soldiers saw enemy gunmen `coming out of private bunkers or tunnels under buildings, hospitals and schools` and
At least 20 Israeli soldiers were killed amid fighting in the Gaza Strip, including Lieutenant Colonel Salman Habaka, commander of an armored battalion.
Video released by Hamas shows the group’s gunmen hiding in a tunnel, waiting for Israeli tanks and armored vehicles to pass, then using anti-tank guns to continuously fire.
Hamas posted a video attacking Israel’s most modern tanks and armor
Hamas gunmen attacked Israeli tanks and armor from the tunnel.
It is unclear whether the Israeli military plans to advance deeper into Gaza City or will stay in the suburbs, test Hamas’s defense capabilities, and instruct fighter jets to target the group’s stronghold.
Retired Major General Giora Eiland, who once headed Israel’s National Security Council, said that the IDF achieved relatively easy success in its plan to divide the northern and southern Gaza Strip and besiege Hamas in their stronghold.
According to Mr. Eiland, to maintain the siege of Gaza City, Israel must disable the tunnels connecting the north with the south of the Gaza Strip, which is considered a lifeline that helps Hamas maintain its ability to resist.
On November 2, the IDF announced that its engineering force was using remote-controlled robots and explosive devices to detect and destroy Hamas underground bunkers.
Israeli tanks and armored bulldozers participate in the operation in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli officials announced that the country’s military in the past few days had largely neutralized Hamas’s anti-tank capabilities.
The United Nations announced it had stopped providing humanitarian aid to the northern Gaza Strip, where about 300,000 civilians remained despite the IDF asking them to leave the area.
