As Israeli forces move closer to the heart of Gaza City, reports suggest that Hamas fighters are regrouping, raising concerns about fierce street combat.
Thousands of Palestinians have already fled the city following Israel’s ground offensive that kicked off last week.
According to Israel, Gaza City represents the “final stronghold” of Hamas, with goals set on dismantling the group and securing the release of the remaining 48 hostages, 20 of whom are believed to still be alive.
The BBC confirmed footage displaying an Israeli tank at Hamid Junction, roughly 1.5 kilometers from the central al-Shifa hospital. Additionally, Israeli armor was reported near a major UN compound in southern Gaza City, just 700 meters from the city center.
In a conversation with a Hamas official, it became clear that the organization is ready to mobilize thousands of fighters for potential urban warfare, spiking fears of intense fighting in densely populated areas where countless civilians are still present.
The official pointed out that Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the military commander of Hamas, has given orders for all fighters in Gaza to converge on the city, urging them to get ready for what is described as a “final, decisive battle.”
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) estimated last week that there were up to 3,000 Hamas fighters in Gaza City. However, a Hamas source claimed the number is much higher, standing at 5,000, warning of possible suicide attacks, although such methods have not been prevalent in this ongoing conflict. The BBC is unable to independently verify these claims, and Hamas has not officially responded.
Since the war began nearly two years ago, international journalists have been prohibited from entering Gaza unaccompanied by the IDF, complicating the verification of information from both sides. Some journalists have been granted limited access to Gaza under IDF supervision.
Israel’s efforts to neutralize underground tunnels in Gaza, often used by militants for surprise strikes, are ongoing. Nonetheless, a Hamas representative noted that some tunnels remain operational, asserting that the group has adapted its tactics based on their experiences with Israeli operations targeted at removing fighters from the battlefield.
Prior to his death, the former military chief of Hamas, Mohammed Deif, revised the strategy, emphasizing a shift toward guerrilla tactics and ambushes to address their significant casualties.
Residents from Gaza City have reported that Israel’s response involves executing rapid raids into urban settings, followed by hasty withdrawals within hours.
Furthermore, it has been reported in Israeli media that the IDF has deployed damaged armored vehicles, packed with explosives and equipped for remote operations, to engage Hamas sites or obliterate structures harboring fighters.
Israel has also introduced quadcopter drones fitted with loudspeakers to warn residents to evacuate, thereby causing panic in multiple neighborhoods.
While Palestinian families continue to migrate south via the coastal al-Rashid road, the only route currently authorized by the Israeli military, transportation costs have skyrocketed, with many families being charged upwards of $3,000 (£2,450) – far too steep for most Gazans. Consequently, countless individuals have been forced to leave behind belongings they cannot carry on foot.
Those still in Gaza City, believed to number in hundreds of thousands, are coping with ongoing threats of airstrikes, collapsing hospitals, and limited access to food and clean water. A UN-supported agency confirmed the existence of famine conditions in the area late last month.
The Israeli offensive in Gaza was initiated as a counter-response to the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and 251 individuals taken hostage.
According to the health ministry in Gaza, overseen by Hamas, at least 65,419 individuals have died in Israeli strikes since those events transpired.
