Illustrative image.
On November 19, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas Movement, released videos documenting recent clashes with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in the northern Gaza Strip.
One of the videos shows Hamas fighters destroying or damaging several Israeli Merkava main battle tanks and Namer armored personnel carriers from a close distance in Gaza City. The vehicles were targeted with rocket-propelled grenades, except for one tank which was blown up with an explosive device that was planted right on top of its chassis.
Another video shows three Hamas fighters storming Ranteesi Hospital, which was recently occupied by the IDF, and clashing with Israeli troops there.
The videos highlight the heavy losses the IDF is sustaining while attempting to develop its ground attack in Gaza City and nearby areas.
The IDF reported the death of ten soldiers in the Strip in the last 24 hours, which brings the number of Israeli troops killed during ground operations there to 61. More than 260 others were reportedly wounded, many of whom seriously.
More losses will likely be reported in upcoming hours. In the morning, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades claimed that its fighters killed six Israeli troops near the village of Juhor al-Dik. From its side, the al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, reported the destruction of nine vehicles of the IDF in different parts of northern Gaza.
Meanwhile, the IDF said that its fighter jets struck “many” Hamas targets in the Jabaliya refugee camp, the city of Beit Lahiya, and Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighborhood as troops were advancing there overnight. Navy missile ships also struck a number of targets along Gaza’s coast, according to the IDF.
Separately, the IDF announced that its troops had raided the homes of senior Hamas officials in Gaza City’s upscale Rimal neighborhood and battled fighters in the area.
Soldiers from the Paratroopers Brigade, tanks and combat engineers located some 35 tunnel shafts and dozens of weapons in the two neighborhoods and killed several Hamas operatives, the IDF said, adding that the troops also raided Hamas military camp in the Rimal area, locating a weapons depot and seven rocket launchers.
Israel’s rush to take over northern Gaza may be related to recent reports of a near agreement with Hamas that would include a temporary ceasefire and the release of some of the hostages being held in the Strip. The IDF apparently wants to improve its stance before any ceasefire.
