Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip (2023–present)

Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip
Part of the Israel–Hamas war
Gaza Strip   Evacuated areas inside Israel   Current extent of the Israeli clearing operations in 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.
Date 27 October 2023 – present (3 months, 3 weeks and 1 day) Location Gaza Strip with spillover into Israel Status Ongoing Israel orders multiple evacuations across the Gaza Strip IDF launches a ground assault in Gaza City and Khan Yunis
Belligerents
Israel	Paramilitaries in the Gaza Strip (Joint Operations Room) Hamas Palestinian Islamic Jihad Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine Popular Resistance Committees PFLP–GC Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine Smaller Palestinian militant groups
Commanders and leaders
Yoav Gallant Benny Gantz Herzl Halevi Tomer Bar Ronen Bar Yaron Finkelman	Mohammed Deif Yahya Sinwar Khalil Bathani Abu Jamal Abu Khaled
Units involved
Israel Defense Forces 36th "Ga'ash" Armored Division 98th Paratroopers Division 99th Reserve Infantry Division 146th "HaMapatz" Reserve Armored Division 162nd "HaPlada" Armored Division 252nd Sinai Reserve Armored Division 261st Reserve Brigade 460th "Bnei Or" Armored Training Brigade 828th "Bislamach" Training Brigade Israeli Air Force Shayetet 13	Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades Nukhba Al-Quds Brigades Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades Al-Nasser Salah al-Deen Brigades National Resistance Brigades al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades Mujahideen Brigades Jaysh al-Ummah
Strength
~40,000	Al-Qassam Brigades: 20,000–40,000
Casualties and losses
Per Israel: 234 killed 1,361+ wounded Per Al-Qassam Brigades: 1,600+ killed 3,400+ wounded 750+ armored vehicles disabled	Per the Euro-Med Monitor: 1,892 militants killed Per the US: 20–30% of Hamas fighters killed 10,500–11,700 wounded Per Israel: 10,000+ Hamas fighters killed ~2,500 captured ~10,000 wounded
25,930 Palestinian civilians killed, 48,128 Palestinians injured (Per the Euro-Med Monitor) 10,000+ Palestinian civilians killed (Per Israel) 21,449 Palestinians killed, 49,585 injured (Per the Gaza Health Ministry) 31–51+ Israeli hostages killed

On the evening of 27 October 2023, Israel launched a large-scale invasion of the Gaza Strip, as part of the Israel–Hamas war, with the stated goals of destroying Hamas, freeing the hostages and controlling the Gaza Strip. The invasion came after a Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023. Israel then declared a state of war, tightened its blockade, ordered the evacuation of the northern Gaza Strip, and launched "Operation Swords of Iron".

More than 28,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the start of the Israeli operation, including over 10,000 children and 7,000 women, with another 7,000 people missing and presumed dead under the rubble of destroyed buildings. By mid-December Israel had dropped 29,000 munitions on Gaza, destroying or damaging 70 percent of homes in the Strip. Experts say that the scale and pace of destruction in Gaza is among the most severe in recent history. During the invasion, Israel destroyed at least a third of Gaza's homes and hundreds of cultural landmarks, and desecrated dozens of cemeteries in the strip.

A severe humanitarian crisis has developed, with healthcare in a state of collapse, shortages of food, clean water, medicine and fuel due to the blockade, electricity and communications blackouts, and the UN warning of potential famine. It was widely reported that there is "no safe place in Gaza" as Israel struck areas it had previously told Palestinians to evacuate to. The widespread civilian deaths have led to accusations of war crimes against both Israel and Hamas. Nearly all of Gaza's 2.3 million population have been internally displaced and around 250,000–500,000 Israelis were internally displaced, while thousands of Palestinians have been detained by Israel, and Israel has stated it lost 225 additional soldiers in its invasion as of 4 February 2024. As a result of the invasion, South Africa instituted proceedings against Israel in the International Court of Justice (ICJ), charging that Israel was guilty of committing a genocide, South Africa and requested that the ICJ render provisional measures of protection.

Background

Main article: Israel–Hamas war

Further information: Gaza–Israel conflict

See also: October 2023 Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip and Evacuation of the northern Gaza Strip

After Palestinian militant groups led by Hamas launched an attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 which saw a minimum of 1,139 largely non-combatant individuals killed, Israel declared war against Hamas. Israel moved to mobilize 300,000 reservists and began to move armor close to the border with the Gaza Strip in the aftermath. Included in the amassing of armor were Namer armored personnel carriers and Merkava tanks.

Prior to the raids, Israel had called for the more than a 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. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had urged around 1.1 million civilians to leave North Gaza so they would not be hurt or caught in crossfire, 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. Israel had dropped leaflets in Gaza City containing the evacuation order, in addition to electronic communications.

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."

Raids inside Gaza

On 13 October 2023, the IDF sent armored vehicles and infantry into the Gaza Strip, stating that their goals were to attack Hamas militants and to rescue hostages that had been abducted to Gaza by Hamas. 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. The IDF confirmed the same day that Israeli remains were located and retrieved in the Gaza Strip.

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, including tanks, other vehicles and IDF Caterpillar D9 armored bulldozers. A follow-up raid took place the next night in the Shuja'iyya neighborhood of Gaza City.

Invasion

27 October

Internet and mobile phone services in Gaza were almost completely cut off. 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. Shayetet 13, a commando unit of the Israeli Navy, carried out a strike on Hamas naval forces overnight. An Israeli Skylark II drone was shot down on Gaza Strip.

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. The IDF announced it was "expanding ground operations" in the Gaza Strip. 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 has begun".

Israeli military during ground operations in the Gaza Strip on 31 October

Israeli military during ground operations in the Gaza Strip on 1 November

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.

29 October

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO), described as "deeply concerning" reports from the Palestinian Red Crescent with smoke and dust, prompting staff to give breathing masks to some patients. Around 14,000 civilians were believed to be sheltering in or near the hospital. scent that the al-Quds hospital had received an urgent evacuation warning along with a notice that it was "going to be bombarded". He reiterated that it was "impossible to evacuate hospitals full of patients without endangering their lives". Israeli airstrikes targeted the area around the hospital, filling parts of the building. Associated Press reported that Israeli airstrikes also destroyed roads leading to the Al-Shifa hospital, making it increasingly difficult to reach. Later in the day, Hamas said that Palestinian militants clashed with Israeli tanks in Salah al-Din Street in Gaza and forced them to retreat. The Institute for the Study of War also stated that Israel withdrew from the road.

30 October

The IDF blocked the Salah al-Din Road, a major thoroughfare connecting the northern and southern parts of the Gaza Strip. Israeli tanks were also seen in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City. 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." 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." A kidnapped IDF private was freed the same day in an operation headed by the IDF, with assistance from Shin Bet and Mossad. In northwest Gaza, the Al-Qassam Brigades and the DFLP's National Resistance Brigades engaged Israeli forces, and the National Resistance Brigades bombarded Israeli vehicles with heavy mortar shells.

1 November

IDF reported the deaths of 16 soldiers, 15 inside Gaza and one outside of Palestinian territory.

On 2 November, IDF had completely surrounded Gaza City, which began the siege of Gaza City. Al-Qassam Brigades showed footage of the destruction of an Israeli Merkava tank after its fighters used an Al-Yassin 105mm rocket-propelled grenade to neutralize its Trophy protection system.

4 November

A UNRWA spokeswoman confirmed reports that Israel had conducted an airstrike against a United Nations-run school in the Jabalia refugee camp. According to the Gaza health ministry, the attack killed 15 and wounded dozens more. According to UNRWA, at least one strike hit the schoolyard, where displaced families had set up their tents. The Gaza Ministry of Health said another Israeli missile strike on the entrance to the Nasser Children's Hospital killed two women. According to White House officials, efforts to evacuate foreign nationals through the Rafah border crossing were temporarily hindered by Hamas's refusal to allow anyone to leave, until a certain number of its own wounded were also allowed to leave. Hamas stated that within the last two days they had destroyed 24 Israeli vehicles, including a tank, an APC, and a bulldozer with anti-armour weapons.

Turkey recalled its ambassador to Israel "in view of the unfolding humanitarian tragedy in Gaza caused by the continuing attacks by Israel against civilians, and Israel's refusal (to accept) a ceasefire." President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters he held Netanyahu personally responsible for civilian deaths in Gaza and said that he was "no longer someone we can talk to".

Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson for the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, reported that due to Israeli air strikes, the bodies of 23 missing Israeli hostages were buried under the rubble.

5 November

IDF reported that 29 soldiers had been killed, and one severely wounded, during the fighting in the Gaza Strip.

6 November

Israeli missile attacks targeted the Nasser Medical Complex in Gaza City, hitting the Al-Nasser Children's Hospital, eight people were killed and dozens more were injured according to Al Jazeera. Human Rights Watch called for a weapons embargo against both Israel and Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups, accusing them of committing war crimes against civilians.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. Biden administration was planning to send $320 million worth of "Spice Family Gliding Bomb Assemblies", a type of precision guided weapon fired by warplanes, to Israel. Under the deal, weapons manufacturer Rafael USA would send the bombs to its Israeli parent Rafael Advanced Defense Systems for use by the Israeli defense ministry.

10 November

Netanyahu said the IDF would control Gaza after the war and rejected proposals to establish an international force in the strip.

11 November

Four IDF soldiers—a major, a sergeant major, and two master sergeants—were killed and other four were wounded after a tunnel exploded in their vicinity near Beit Hanoun. All casualties were from the 697th battalion of the 551st Reserve Brigade Arrows of Fire. Among the dead was Matan Meir, the executive producer of the Israeli television series Fauda.

13 November

Israel Defense Forces @IDF

Beneath the Rantisi Hospital in Gaza, IDF forces found a room where Israeli hostages are believed to have been held. The calendar found in the room marked the days since 7 October Massacre with the title "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood", Hamas's name for their horrific attack on Israel.

14 November 2023

The IDF published a video which they said showed that Hamas had a facility under Al-Rantisi Hospital, and that Israeli hostages were likely hidden there. The video showed, among others, a stash of weapons and explosives; what appears to be a motorbike with a bullet hole on its side; and water, ventilation and sewage infrastructure that the IDF stated were improvised in preparation of coming hostages.

According to The New York Times, the origins of the weapons shown in the video could not be independently verified.

Charles Lister, Director of the Counterterrorism and Extremism Program at the Middle East Institute, stated the IDF footage "clearly indicated" that the basement was a bomb shelter. Mohammed Zarqout, a local official responsible for Gaza's hospitals, stated the basement was a shelter for women and children.

The IDF also presented a calendar that they said was found under the hospital marking the days since 7 October, with the title "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood". Israel stated the calendar was a list "where every terrorist writes his name". However, this claim was criticized by fluent Arabic speakers as "propaganda", who said that the words in Arabic only spelled out the days of the week.

14 November

External videos
Instagram videos by Ahmed Hijazi of the Al-Shifa Hospital strike shown in the Visual Investigations report published by The New York Times. Contains graphic images of severe injury.
A video of the airstrikes and immediate injuries.
Shows dead and injured in the aftermath.

The New York Times published a report by its Visual Investigations team contradicting claims by the IDF that civilian deaths and damage at the al-Shifa Hospital had been caused by stray Palestinian projectiles. The report concluded instead, "some of the munitions were likely fired by Israeli forces", based on video and satellite evidence and an examination of weapons fragments collected and verified by The Times and analyzed by experts. Moreover, two of the most severe strikes analyzed by The Times hit upper floors of the maternity ward and did not appear to be aimed at underground infrastructure. "Israel's assertion that Al-Shifa was actually hit by a Palestinian projectile echoed similar – and unresolved – claims and counterclaims following munitions that hit the courtyard of another Gaza hospital, Al-Ahli, nearly a month ago. The evidence reviewed by The Times from Al-Shifa points more directly to strikes by Israel – whether on purpose or by accident is unclear," the report said. The IDF has stated that it is targeting Al Shifa Hospital due to its use by Hamas, and that there is a command center underneath the facility, with U.S. officials stating that their intelligence confirms Israel's conclusions that Hamas is operating out of hospitals in Gaza. A day earlier the EU issued a joint declaration condemning Hamas for its use of hospitals and civilians as "human shields" in Gaza. A number of countries and international organizations condemned what they called Hamas' use of hospitals and civilians as human shields.

IDF soldiers carried boxes into al-Shifa, labeled in English and Arabic as "medical supplies" and "baby food". In an interview with Al Jazeera, an emergency room employee stated that Israel "did not bring any aid or supplies", while another contact within the hospital told the BBC that Israeli soldiers had supplied water to elderly patients. Several hours later, the IDF stated they had found weapons in al-Shifa, indicating the presence of a command center. The IDF released a video that they said showed grenades, automatic weapons and flak jackets recovered from the hospital. John Kirby, a U.S. government official, stated that the U.S. remained confident in their previous assessment that a Hamas military compound exists underneath the hospital.

In response, Mouin Rabbani, a Middle East analyst, stated, "Israeli forces have invaded Shifa Hospital and been inside it for 12 full hours – having refused any independent party to accompany them – and now we're supposed to believe that there were Hamas militants in there being pursued by the Israeli military but they somehow left their weapons behind?" Political analyst Marwan Bishara stated, "It's kind of baffling. Why would Hamas leave the guns and not anything else?" Jeremy Scahill stated, "I've seen more guns in the homes of ordinary Americans than in this purported Hamas Pentagon under al-Shifa Hospital."

16 November

Netanyahu had stated in an interview with CBS that the Israeli government had "strong indications" that hostages were in al-Shifa, which was one of the reasons they entered the hospital. It was reported that the body of Yehudit Weiss, a 65-year-old woman who was kidnapped from Be'eri kibbutz, was found in a building near the hospital.

Residents in parts of southern Gaza reportedly received evacuation notices, sparking concerns over an expansion of the invasion. A fuel shortage was widely reported to have caused a shutdown of all internet and phone networks in the Gaza Strip, according to its two primary telecom providers Jawwal and Paltel.

17 November

Internet and telecom services were restored after Israel reportedly agreed to allow the delivery of 140,000 liters of fuel into the Gaza Strip every two days following a request by the U.S. to do so, consisting of 20,000 liters to be delivered to Jawwal and Paltel to maintain telecom and internet service and 120,000 liters for water desalination, sewage pumping, food production and hospitals. It was reported that the body of Noa Marciano, a 19-year-old soldier who was taken captive on 7 October, was found in a building near al-Shifa hospital.

18 November

Israeli strikes killed more than 80 people in Jabalia refugee camp.

A World Health Organization team visited the al-Shifa hospital amid reports that the Israeli army commander sent patients away with an Agence France-Presse journalist reportedly witnessing the departure of patients and displaced persons from the hospital.

Jordan's foreign minister Ayman Safadi stated that Arab troops would not go into Gaza to assume control after the war.

19 November

The IDF released footage of an underground tunnel under al-Shifa. The tunnel, which is 160 meters long and 10 meters deep, passes directly under the Qatari building of the hospital; it has air-conditioned rooms, bathrooms, a kitchenette, electricity connections and communication infrastructure, and is protected by a blast door. The IDF also released CCTV footage that appears to show two of the hostages being led in the hospital's corridors, as well as Hamas and stolen IDF vehicles in its courtyard. During the 1980s, Israel expanded the hospital with functional basements for maintenance and administration purposes; and a network of tunnels was part of this construction. According to Israel, Hamas eventually appropriated the complex, then expanded it with its own system of tunnels and bunkers. Multiple sources concluded that evidence did not demonstrate the use of the tunnels by Hamas as a command center.

A group of 31 premature babies were evacuated from al-Shifa hospital to southern Gaza.

The White House denied reporting from The Washington Post that a Qatari brokered five-day ceasefire deal had been reached. The deal would have included a five-day ceasefire in exchange for the stepwise release of female and child hostages in small groups. The U.S. National Security Council Spokesperson stated on X (formerly Twitter): "We have not reached a deal yet, but we continue to work hard to get to a deal".

20 November

IDF tanks completely surrounded the Indonesia Hospital in Gaza after heavy fire using artillery weapons against it, around 12 Palestinians were killed in clashes around the hospital according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Around 700 people, including the injured and medical staff, were inside the facility when the IDF surrounded it. The head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, responded on X (formerly known as Twitter) saying he was "appalled" by the Israeli forces and their actions against the Indonesia Hospital by keeping the injured and medical staff inside the building while besieging it.

On 20 November the IDF released video footage of what appears to be a weapons manufacturing facility hidden behind a false wall inside the basement of a mosque in Zeitoun, Gaza. IDF soldiers also discovered weapons, explosive devices, a drone, and a vertical tunnel shaft inside the building.

21 November

The IDF moved its frontline to encircle the Jabaliya refugee camp where they are battling Palestinian militants and attempting to control with IDF forces getting more equipment for the attack.

22 November

Israel and Hamas reached a temporary ceasefire agreement, providing for a four-day "pause" or "lull" in hostilities, to allow for the release of 50 hostages held in Gaza. The deal also provided for the release of approximately 150 Palestinian women and children incarcerated by Israel. The agreement was approved by the Israeli cabinet in the early hours of the day; in a statement, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office stated Israel's intention to continue the war.

According to Hamas, in addition to the truce and prisoner exchange, the deal also involved Israel halting all air sorties over southern Gaza and maintaining a daily six-hour daytime no-fly window over northern Gaza, in addition to the entry of hundreds of trucks of humanitarian, medical and fuel supplies into the Gaza Strip. The Israeli government said that the truce would be extended by one day for every additional 10 hostages released by Hamas. The deal was brokered by Egypt and Qatar, and Egyptian state media announced the truce will enter into effect on the morning of 23 November. Qatari Foreign Affairs minister Mohamed Bin Mubarak Al-Khulaifi, whom Reuters referred to as "Qatar's chief negotiator in ceasefire talks," stated his hope that the truce "will be a seed to a bigger agreement and a permanent cease of fire...That's our intention."

The IDF released video footage from Sheikh Zayed, an area which is home to many senior members of Hamas. The footage showed what the IDF claimed to be a rocket launcher situated near a school, and an armament-laden truck used in the 7 October attack parked in the courtyard of a mosque.

Temporary ceasefire

23 November

The IDF released footage showing a weapons cache hidden under a child's bed, which it stated belonged to the child of a senior Hamas official.

24 November

Hamas released 13 Israeli hostages, 10 Thai nationals, and one Filipino captive. Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners. The IDF also revised the number of hostages held in Gaza to 236.

25 November

Hamas released 13 Israeli and four foreign hostages after a seven-hour delay from their agreed time. Hamas was accused of violating the deal after not having released a mother with her child.

26 November

Hamas released 17 hostages, including 14 Israelis and three Thai nationals. Israel also released 39 teenage Palestinian prisoners.

27 November

Qatar announced that an agreement between Israel and Hamas to extend the truce by two days had been reached.

28 November

Both Israel and Hamas accused each other of violating the truce. The IDF reported that several soldiers sustained minor injuries following an attack by Hamas in the northern Gaza Strip by three explosive devices that it said were detonated near its forces at two different locations, while Hamas said it had engaged Israel in a "field clash" that it said was instigated by Israel. Turkish media and Muhammad al-Hindi, Deputy Secretary-General of the PIJ, confirmed that Al-Quds Brigade soldiers held and released civilian women and children to the Red Cross.

29 November

Hamas released 12 hostages, 10 of them Israeli and two of them Thai nationals. Afterwards, Israel released 30 Palestinian prisoners. Hamas continued to deny the International Committee of the Red Cross access to the remaining hostages.

30 November

Hamas released two more hostages as the truce, which was supposed to end minutes later, was extended by another day.

An Israeli Skylark II drone was reported shot down on central Gaza. The remains were recorded by Palestinian media.

Resumption of hostilities

1 December

Upon the expiry of the truce, the Israeli army was subject to several ambushes and attacks by Palestinian militants.

The IDF engaged in battles against militants in Zeitoun. Soldiers at the Netzarim Junction on the Salah al-Din Road south of Zeitoun neighbourhood were subjected to mortar shelling by Saraya al Quds. Palestinian fighters ambushed Israeli forces in the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood west of Zeitoun.

The IDF stated on 18 November that it was expanding offensive operations toward Jabalia city in the northern Gaza Strip.

2 December

Palestinian militants led by Saraya al Quds resisted the Israeli penetration into the northwestern front towards Jabalia, engaging soldiers in urban warfare throughout the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhoods. Al Qassam launched 3 loitering munitions to target Israeli forces throughout northern Gaza. They also targeted Israeli soldiers in Beit Hanoun, firing at groups, normally holed up in buildings with rockets. An IDF Caterpillar D9 armoured bulldozer was also targeted by Palestinian rockets at Juhor ad-Dik. PFLP militants targeted the Gaza envelope with rockets and mortar shelling.

3 December

Israeli forces in Northern Gaza were subject to heavy attacks, led by Al-Qassam Brigades. In Sheikh Radwan, Israeli soldiers were trapped in a booby-trapped tunnel then shelled by Palestinian mortar fire. Three vehicles were targeted by Saraya al Quds with small arms and tandem-charged RPGs.

December 8

Khan Yunis and Central Gaza axis

Israeli forces begun to enter Khan Yunis, reporting the most violent fighting in the entire war with the Israeli 7th Brigade engaged in a multi-hour complex attack on Palestinian militias.

Al-Qassam brigades displayed a shift to more sophisticated battle tactics, including rigging houses to detonate when entered by Israeli soldiers. Primary relying on rockets, damage was inflicted on Israeli vehicles while Saraya al Quds, DFLP, and PFLP shelled advancing forces with mortar fire. The IDF conducted land and sea raids on central Gaza, specifically Deir al-Balah to destroy militant command posts.

Siege of Gaza City

Israeli sources reported stiff resistance by Palestinian militants in Shujaiyya, in southern Gaza city, as the 188th Brigade was sent to fight in the neighbourhood.

Qassem Brigades targeted vehicles with RPGs Sheikh Radwan and Zaytoun, while Saraya al Quds fighters claimed two tandem-charged RPG and grenade attacks on Israeli forces on advancing axes in the Shujaiya and Zaytoun neighborhoods. Attempts to close in on Jabalia have resulted in significant Israeli casualties, with the IDF acknowledging Gadi Eizenkot's son been eliminated fighting in the northern Gaza Strip on December 7. The Qassam Brigades claimed that its fighters killed the soldier when they detonated an IED on a tunnel door on the eastward line of advance into Jabalia.

In a video publicised by Saraya Al Quds, three militants take positions within the ruins of an urban centre in Gaza, as a Merkava arrives, firing at the militants with its machine guns. They then shoot from three positions with multiple rockets, overriding the Trophy system and destroying the tank. A fighter can be seen rejoicing, exclaiming that the tank had "caught fire"

10 December

The Times of Israel announced that 6 IDF soldiers were killed in fighting in the southern Gaza strip, after Hamas fighters detonated an IED targeting the Israeli 5th Brigade's 8111st Battalion forces in Khan Younis. Israeli forces announced that they conducted airstrikes and helicopter strikes in response and eliminated several Hamas fighters.

12 December

Israel announced that a further 10 IDF soldiers had been killed in the fighting in the Gaza Strip, including a Colonel and 7 other soldiers of the Golani Brigade, that were killed in the Shuja'iyya area of Gaza after Hamas fighters ambushed them.

15 December

The IDF released a statement announcing that they had killed three of their own hostages by friendly fire. According to the Israeli military, they "mistakenly identified three Israeli hostages as a threat" during operations in Shuja'iyya and subsequently fired at them, killing them. According to an Israeli military official on 16 December, the three hostages were shirtless and were carrying "a stick with a white cloth on it" when an Israeli soldier, who declared them to be "terrorists" after feeling "threatened", opened fire, killing two hostages and injuring the third, who was killed by Israeli reinforcements.

18 December

Israel announced the deaths of 7 IDF soldiers, mostly killed in the fighting in the southern Gaza strip. Bringing the Israeli death toll to 53 since 1 December. The IDF stated they were facing tough opposition in Gaza.

20 December

Qassam militants confronted Israeli vehicles in the Khan Yunis axis, targeting a Namer APC and an IDF Caterpillar D9. In a video publication, Qassam militants are shown firing a rocket at a Merkava, destroying the Windbreaker and proving that Yassin 105 rockets are able to bypass or override interception and damage tanks.

24 December

Israel announced that 15 IDF soldiers had been killed in heavy fighting in Gaza in the 23–24 December period, including six killed when a Namer APC was hit by an anti-tank missile. The IDF also claimed to have killed Hamas' chief of supplies.

Israel also withdrew from Beit Hanoun amidst heavy fighting with various Palestinian armed groups. Returning civilians to the ruins of the town reported that no vehicles were in sight. Israeli forces continue to shell the city.

30 December

Militants engaged Israeli vehicles in the Khan Yunis axis of the invasion. In an episode a tank is targeted by a rocket, tearing off a plate which lands near the militant demonstrating the capabilities of the Yassin 105 rockets against the Merkava's APS. Another fighter erupts from a tunnel, ambushing a tank in an unusual strategy recorded during the invasion where the militants sneak up to the vehicle and place and IED on them from zero distance. A Caterpillar Caterpillar D9 bulldozer is also targeted, setting it on fire.

6 January

The IDF claimed that it had completed the dismantlement of Hamas's "military framework" in the northern Gaza Strip as it moved to attack Hamas forces in Central Gaza. The Institute for the Study of War warned that does not mean that Hamas forces are entirely eradicated and could reconstitute themselves.

11 January

The IDF claimed that it had discovered over a thousand tunnel shafts in Gaza City alone with the majority being small sized and thus easily destroyed but larger tunnels needing complex engineering and demolition operations. Israeli security officials conceded that they had an underestimated the scale of Gaza's tunnels and that they have destroyed less than half of them so far. IDF described the change in Hamas tactics in Northern Gaza after the dismantling of its command structure as going into "guerrilla mode".

16 January

The ISW reported that the Palestinian militias were likely re-entering areas of the northern Gaza Strip where Israeli forces previously operated.

17 January

Under U.S. pressure Israel continued withdrawing thousands of troops from Gaza despite concerns from Israeli officials of a possible surge in militant activity. According to IDF sources, Palestinian militants began launching rocket attacks from areas where IDF forces withdrew.

18 January

By 18 January, the IDF stated that Hamas had begun to rebuild its armies in the occupied parts of Northern Gaza. The IDF had previously stated these armies were stripped of military capabilities but by 18 January the fighting strength of many battalions had been significantly restored.

19 January

Israeli shelling in Khan Younis killed ten people in the Abasan neighborhood.

22 January

Since Israel announced its strategic shift under pressure of the U.S. and allies to reduce the intensity of fighting the number of deaths reported by the Gaza Health Ministry had also declined with the weekly average of daily deaths including both fighters and civilians falling to 151. However it could not be established if the percentage of civilian deaths had also reduced. IDF soldiers filmed themselves destroying entire residential neighborhoods in Khan Younis.

Israel reported that at least 24 Israeli soldiers were killed in Gaza. 21 of which were killed while rigging a building for demolition, when a rocket-propelled grenade hit the building they were in and caused a large chain explosion. This brought the IDF death toll in Gaza to 219. This makes it the deadliest day for the IDF since the ground invasion began.

Attack on Rafah

Further information: Rafah offensive

3 February

Israel announced that it would begin moving into Rafah, after declaring "victory" in Khan Younis. On 3 February, Israeli attacks targeted eastern and central Rafah, reportedly killing at least twenty-eight people. UN Human Rights High Commissioner Volker Turk stated, "This sets off alarm bells for massive civilian casualties and further displacement to unknown location". German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock stated, "Taking action now in Rafah, the last and most overcrowded place, as announced by the Israeli defence minister, would simply not be justifiable".

4 February

On 4 February, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported that 92 people had been killed by Israeli attacks on Rafah. At least two girls were killed on an attack at a kindergarten. The intensifying Israeli attacks were reportedly centered in eastern Rafah.

7 February

Axios reported that Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant stated to the U.S. Secretary of State that Israel would soon begin expanded ground operations in Rafah. In Rafah, an Israeli airstrike bombed a civilian car next to an entertainment event for displaced children, reportedly killing at least one person. Eleven people were killed in overnight airstrikes. Six Palestinian policemen were reportedly killed while clearing the road for an aid truck.

8 February

The U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby stated, "Any major military operation in Rafah at this time... would be a disaster, and we would not support it". The U.S. requested Israel to create a plan and prioritise the safety of civilians which had increased due to refugees from other areas of Gaza. U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby stated that they have not observed signs of an imminent Israeli offensive into Gaza.

Netanyahu ordered the IDF to prepare to invade Rafah. An intense bombing campaign in west Rafah was reported, reportedly indicating an expanding ground invasion. At least twelve people were killed in airstrikes in southern Rafah.

9 February

Netanyahu ordered the IDF to plan for the "evacuation of the population" from Rafah. Israeli Prime Minister's Office claimed that elimination of Hamas remains impossible without the destruction of the four Hamas battalions in Rafah which is the last major population center in Gaza not occupied by the IDF. Doctors Without Borders issued a strong warning in response, stating, "Israel's declared ground offensive on Rafah would be catastrophic and must not proceed. Today's announcement marks a dramatic escalation in this ongoing massacre." EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell stated, "Reports of an Israeli military offensive on Rafah are alarming. It would have catastrophic consequences worsening the already dire humanitarian situation and the unbearable civilian toll." Egypt sent 40 tanks to the Rafah border. Eight people were killed and at least eighteen wounded in Israeli strikes on residential buildings in Rafah.

10 February

Hanke Bruins Slot, the Foreign Minister of the Netherlands, stated that Israel's planned assault on Rafah was "unjustifiable". Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly stated Canada was "deeply concerned" about an Israeli invasion of Rafah. Haaretz and Channel 12 stated Israel's plans for the Rafah invasion were not yet finalized. Two Palestinians were killed after an Israeli strike on a police car in Rafah. An unnamed Israeli official stated Palestinians in Rafah would be evacuated back northward. At least 28 people were killed in Rafah by overnight Israeli attacks.

11 February

In a call with Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden stated Israel could invade Rafah with U.S. support when they had a "credible and executable plan" in place. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the World Health Organization, stated reports of Israel's impending invasion were "extremely worrying". The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated there would be "dire consequences" if Israel invaded Rafah. Satellite imagery indicated Egypt had strengthened the border, including building earthen berms and security checkpoints. The Omani Foreign Ministry stated, "We warn of the serious repercussions of the continuation of the occupation in its indiscriminate aggression in the Gaza Strip and its plans to storm Rafah." At least 40 people were reported killed in east Rafah. Al Jazeera journalist Hani Mahmoud described Israel's attacks on Rafah police as an intentional attempt to create civil disorder. Micheál Martin, the Irish foreign minister, stated an Israeli invasion of Rafah would entail "grave violations of international humanitarian law". The Gulf Cooperation Council stated an invasion of Rafah would be a "blatant violation of international law".

12 February

Israeli airstrikes hit the area around the Kuwait Hospital. During a press brief with U.S. president Joe Biden, King Abdullah II stated the world "cannot afford an Israeli attack on Rafah". Stéphane Dujarric criticized Israel's stated plan to evacuate people northward, stating, "You can't send people back to areas that are littered with unexploded ordnance, not to mention a lack of shelter". ICC prosecutor Karim Khan stated he was "deeply concerned" by Israel's bombardment of Rafah. French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné stated an Israeli assault on Rafah would be unjustified. At least 67 Palestinians were killed in Rafah during an Israeli operation to rescue two Israeli captives.

Casualties

Military casualties

The Israeli Army suffered heavy casualties during the current invasion. By 2 February 2024, 234 soldiers have been killedand more than 1,200 were injured, per Israel. Among the deaths 29 were due to friendly fire incidents and accidents. On November 2023 during a single episode the destruction of an armoured personnel carrier with anti-tank missiles killed 9 soldiers. In another episode 10 IDF soldiers were killed in an ambush on 12 December at Shuja'iyya. The bloodiest day so far was on 22 January when 24 IDF soldiers were killed after a attack on a tank rigged with explosives.. The current casualties surpass previous IDF tolls on Operation Protective Edge and Operation Cast Lead with 67 and six killed respectively.

On 13 January 2024, Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor estimated that since the beginning of the war on 7 October, over 2,500 Palestinians killed were combatants, of whom 1,542 died during the Israeli invasion.

On 21 January 2024, U.S. officials said to The Wall Street Journal, that the IDF eliminated 20 to 30% of Hamas fighters in the Gaza Strip. But that was short for their aim of eliminating the group. According to IDF claims 9,000 Hamas fighters were killed another 8,000 are wounded with no capability to return to battle and another 2,300 have been arrested removing 48-60% of Hamas's forces from the battlefield. However it also noted the rate of Hamas deaths was also falling as Hamas reduced head on assaults against the IDF and became more reliant on underground tunnels.

Civilian casualties

Destroyed houses in Gaza City on 8 October 2023

The Gaza Strip has faced massive civilian casualties during the invasion, with at least 17,000 Palestinians reportedly killed since October 27 according to the Gaza Health Ministry, an estimate that is believed to be an undercount. With almost half of the people in Gaza being under 14 years old, a very large number of children have been killed leading Gaza to be declared "the most dangerous place to be a child"

Most civilian deaths during the invasion were caused by airstrikes with many killed during the strikes on Jabalia, Fakhoora school, Maghazi. Civilians have also been killed by Israeli soldier fire or shelling by tanks, in both reported and verified incidents. Though the Gaza Health Ministry does not distinguish between combatants and civilians, civilian death rates have been estimated by outside sources. The Euro-med monitor whose estimates exceed the Gaza Health Ministry's owing to the inclusion of missing bodies under rubble has estimated that at least 22,000 civilians have been killed since October 27, while the Open University of Israel had said that at least 61% of the Palestinians killed were civilians, noting that the civilian to combatant death ratio in this war was higher than all other wars of the 20th century. Despite international skepticism, Israeli sources including IDF officials have deemed the Gaza health ministry's death toll accurate.

Effects on children

Further information: Children in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict § Effects on children

UNICEF spokesperson Toby Fricker stated, "There is no safe place for children anywhere across the strip right now." UNICEF: Children were disproportionately impacted by Israel's attack on Gaza. On 13 November, UNICEF stated more than 700,000 children in Gaza were displaced. The Palestine Red Crescent Society stated displaced children were suffering, due to power outages, lack of basic essentials, and "scenes of pain and fear." The executive director of UNICEF, toured Gaza on 15 November, stating many children were buried under rubble and lacking medical care. The head of pediatrics at Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, stated due to the lack of clean water, he was witnessing the "most serious epidemic of gastroenteritis" among children he had ever seen.

Israeli strategy

Israeli soldiers in a Namer APC before invasion of the Gaza Strip

On 29 October, Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant said he expected the "second stage of the war" to last "months". Subsequent phases are expected to be the removal of small pockets of resistance, and, finally, withdrawal from Gaza.

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 an "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. The United States has urged Israel to avoid a full-scale invasion and to instead conduct "surgical" operations to avoid casualties and a regional escalation. Israeli military sources said there were over 20,000 IDF troops in Gaza as of 31 October.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel will have overall security responsibility over the Gaza Strip for an indefinite period following the war. European Commission president Von der Leyen stated that there should not be a long-term Israeli security presence in Gaza, and suggested a UN mandated peace force as a possibility; while U.S. President Joe Biden 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." On 11 November, Netanyahu widened the split with the U.S. over postwar governance, saying that he was against the Palestinian Authority having a role there. On November 12, 2023, Israeli security cabinet member Avi Dichter described Israeli strategy in northern Gaza as "Nakba 2023".

Charges of war crimes

Main article: War crimes in the 2023 Israel–Hamas war

During the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip, numerous viral videos showed Israeli soldiers committing war crimes. A series of videos in mid-December 2023 showed IDF troops burning food, vandalizing a shop, and ransacking private homes. The Euro-Med Monitor recorded instances where soldiers deliberately stole civilians' assets, including laptops, gold, and large quantities of cash. Euro-Med Monitor also reported on soldiers recorded harassing corpses, dragging them, urinating on them, and amputating them. In a social media post, the Council on American–Islamic Relations condemned a video of an Israeli soldier stating, "Maybe I killed a girl, she was 12, but I'm looking for a baby." On 2 January 2024, Palestinian diplomat Laith Arafeh condemned reports that Israeli soldiers kidnapped a baby from Gaza. On 11 February, the Saudi Foreign Ministry stated Israel's planned invasion of Rafah was part of a "continued violation of international law and international humanitarian law".

ICJ genocide case

Main article: South Africa v. Israel (Genocide Convention)

During the invasion of the Gaza Strip, South Africa argued that Israel was guilty of committing a genocide in Gaza and instituted proceedings against Israel in the International Court of Justice (ICJ). South Africa's submission placed the charges in the broader context of Israel's conduct towards Palestinians, including claims of 75 years of apartheid, the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the 16-year blockade of the Gaza Strip. South Africa requested that the ICJ render provisional measures of protection.

Destruction of homes

By 7 December 2023, more than one third of homes in Gaza were destroyed by Israel, leading to charges of domicide, referring to the mass destruction of dwellings. Although the term is accepted in academia, it is yet to be defined in international law.

Destruction of cultural heritage

Over 100 landmarks have been destroyed or damaged by Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip according to a report by Heritage for Peace group. The Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, which was agreed to by both Palestinians and Israelis, protects sites of cultural heritage.

The Great Mosque of Gaza was left with only the minaret standing while sites that have been damaged or destroyed include Rafah Museum, Al Qarara Cultural Museum, Rashad Shawa Cultural Center, Hamam al-Sammara, and Tell el-Ajjul. The Church of Saint Porphyrius, the third oldest church in the world, was damaged in an airstrike, as has the Saint Hilarion Monastery. The Byzantine Church of Jabalia, dating from the 5th century and restored in 2022, was destroyed. The destruction of Gaza City's public library and central archives have been compared to the 1992 attacks on the National and University Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina. All universities in the Gaza Strip were bombed by Israeli forces, including the destruction of Al-Israa University and its museum containing several thousand rare artefacts.

Desecration of cemeteries

On 14 December 2023, The New York Times reported that Israeli forces had damaged or destroyed at least six cemeteries in Gaza, and on 20 January 2024, CNN reported that Israeli forces had desecrated at least sixteen cemeteries and had turned some into military outposts. Forensic Architecture reported on 19 December 2023 that Israel had destroyed one of Gaza's most important archaeological sites, located near al-Shati refugee camp.

Reactions

Iran

According to Al Jazeera English, on 15 October, "Iran warned Israel of regional escalation if the Israeli military [entered] Gaza for a ground invasion". Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian stated that if efforts to stop Israeli attacks in Gaza failed, it was increasingly likely that "other fronts [would] be opened".

United States

In an interview aired on 15 October, U.S. President Joe Biden said it would be a mistake for Israel to occupy Gaza again but that eliminating Hezbollah in the north and Hamas in the south is "a necessary requirement". U.S. officials said the Biden administration advised Israel to delay the ground invasion of Gaza to allow more time for hostage negotiations.

Former CIA director David Petraeus warned that a ground offensive in Gaza "could be Mogadishu on steroids very quickly."

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". On 6 February, the Egyptian government expressed fears that an Israeli ground invasion of Rafah could push hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to try to flee across the border into Egypt.

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.

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. 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." According to a survey carried out by the Hebrew University on 7–9 December on the post-war handling of Gaza 56% of Israelis opposed the annexation of Gaza with only 33% in favor while 11% were uncertain. When questioned on who should administer Gaza in the immediate post-war period 23% of Israelis supported a coalition of moderate Arab states, 22% for Israeli military rule, 18% for an international force take charge of the territory, 18% for Israel annexing Gaza and 11% support for the return of the Palestinian Authority. (see also Proposed Israeli resettlement of the Gaza Strip)

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". MK Ahmad Tibi stated Israel's invasion of Rafah would be a war crime.

Palestinians

Palestinians in Gaza reacted most strongly to the violence they experienced at the hands of IDF soldiers during the invasion, with one man whose brother was killed by an Israel sniper stating, "This is not an occupation. This is an enemy who kills without a reason." One woman who had evacuated from northern to central then southern Gaza stated, "Let the Israelis kill us all; let them ethnically cleanse what remains of the Palestinians." Another woman who had remained in Gaza City and was sheltering at al-Shifa Hospital, stated in February 2024, "Our houses were destroyed. Our children were killed. Where should we go? The shooting must stop so we can find a place to live."

On 6 February, West Bank politician Mustafa Barghouti stated, "Any military operations in Rafah – with its limited space and crowdedness with over 1.5 million Palestinians displaced by the Israeli army – would lead to brutal massacres unprecedented in modern history." Palestinians in Rafah feared a permanent displacement like 1948. On 10 February, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas stated the impending Israeli invasion of Rafah would create "another Nakba, which will push the whole region into endless wars". Hanan Ashrawi stated "We are in the midst of a genocide" in Gaza.

International organizations

In advance of an expected ground invasion of Rafah, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres stated, "Such an action would exponentially increase what is already a humanitarian nightmare with untold regional consequences." The UN General Assembly President Dennis Francis stated, "I am shocked and deeply dismayed by the news of an Israeli military offensive into the south of the Gaza Strip. I join the Secretary-General in pleading on behalf of the multitudes of innocent civilians with nowhere safe to go".

Save the Children stated, "Where is there left for the population to go? They have been already moved from the north of Gaza, from the central areas of Gaza – moved around like pieces on a chess board to achieve military objectives. There is nowhere left for them to move." The Norwegian Refugee Council stated, "An expansion of hostilities could turn Rafah into a zone of bloodshed and destruction that people won't be able to escape. There is nowhere left for people to flee to." Omar Shakir, the Human Rights Watch director for Israel and Palestine stated, "There's nowhere safe to go in Gaza. The ICJ has ordered Israel to prevent genocide. The [international] community should act to prevent further atrocities."

Al Mezan Center stated, "The international community must act now to halt the ground invasion of Rafah." The Carter Center stated "Ordering this new wave of displacement of Palestinians will further exacerbate the humanitarian crisis". Catherine M. Russell, the president of UNICEF, stated, "Some 1.3M civilians are pushed into a corner, living on streets or shelters. They must be protected. They have nowhere safe to go".

See also

• List of invasions in the 21st century
• Outline of the Israel–Hamas war
• List of engagements during the Israel–Hamas war
• Timeline of the Israel–Hamas war
• October 2023 Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip
• United States support for Israel in the Israel–Hamas war
• 2005 Israeli disengagement from Gaza
• Population statistics for Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip