Israeli Military Advances in Northern Gaza, Journalists Witness Extent of the Advance

On Saturday, journalists were taken into northern Gaza by Israeli military leaders for four hours to witness the extent of the Israeli military’s advance. The signs of battle between Hamas and the Israeli army were evident, with a shattered school wall, a tilting mosque minaret, and a vanished beachfront villa roof. The Israeli army has been trying to oust Hamas from power for eight days, and they have made significant progress, reaching the outskirts of Gaza City and establishing control over the northern stretch of Gaza’s coastal road.

Thousands of troops began their incursion on October 27, as part of a three-pronged invasive force aimed at defeating Hamas. The northern coastline of Gaza, once a quiet seafront with beach resorts and hotels, has now been transformed into a massive Israeli military camp. Infantry troops marched south along the road, tanks and armored vehicles dominated the landscape, and many buildings were wrecked with bullet holes.

The Palestinian residents had fled south, leaving the seafront to the Israeli soldiers and a few stray animals. The Israeli officer accompanying the journalists, Lt. Col. Iddo Ben-Anat, expressed confidence in the Israeli army’s success in routing Hamas from their bases in the mosque and school. He compared it to catching a mouse, stating that once they find the enemy, they are done.

However, the sounds of an unfinished and undecided war drowned out the bravado. The Israeli military is moving closer to Gaza City, where bloodier battles are expected as Hamas fighters are believed to have entrenched themselves in a network of underground tunnels. The journalists witnessed constant gunfire and munitions flying overhead, and they experienced mortar shells and roadside bombs exploding near them.

To reach the front line, the journalists traveled in a convoy of tanks and armored vehicles, with their vehicles equipped with necessary protection. Palestinian journalists, on the other hand, have not had such protection and dozens have been killed in airstrikes during the war. The Israeli army understands that to truly defeat Hamas, they will need to capture all of Gaza, including Gaza City, where more difficult battles are expected with Hamas fighters in their fortifications.

While Israel claims it is trying to avoid harming civilians, the civilians in Gaza City are terrified. They have witnessed intense bombing campaigns and fear encountering Israeli tanks as they move around the city. With limited access to the internet, residents try to assess the Israeli advance by listening to the sound of gunfire. The situation remains uncertain as the fighting continues.

Contributors: Ronen Bergman (reporting from northern Gaza), Iyad Abuheweila (reporting from Cairo), Abu Bakr Bashir (reporting from London), Patrick Kingsley (reporting from Jerusalem)