Tanks, drones, and paratroopers: Israel’s deadly advance in Gaza city

Last Monday, Israel announced the start of a ground attack on Gaza City; in reality, this operation is just one link in a longer chain.

According to Middle East Eye, northern Gaza, where Gaza City is located, had already been under siege and attacks; since late March, around 800,000 residents of Gaza City have endured bombing, starvation, and lack of medical care.

Although so-called relief centers managed by Israel and the U.S. in the southern part of the massacre zone sheltered nearly 2,000 Palestinians, such centers have not been operational in the north.

Due to concerns about drawing excessive international attention, Israeli forces were ordered in late March to continue operations at a reduced intensity.

An Israeli army colonel noted that attacks on Gaza City had been ongoing for months before the latest ground assault, stating: “There was a lower-level operational situation, but the operations never stopped.”

According to United Nations data, between March and the end of June, more than 2,000 Palestinians were killed each month in Israeli attacks on Gaza.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health reports that since August 11, when Israel intensified its attacks ahead of the ground assault, over 3,500 Palestinians have been massacred across Gaza.

Israeli army tanks entering Gaza City today represent nothing more than an escalation of attacks that had never truly stopped.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims the new assault is necessary to clear the area of Palestinian resistance, which he asserts is holding hostages.

However, a second Israeli army colonel stated that it is still unclear whether there is any significant presence of Palestinian resistance in Gaza City.

A third Israeli military officer involved in intelligence-based planning in the north said: “Israel lacks accurate information about Hamas or hostages. Is Hamas there? Are we sure? They could be anywhere. Are the hostages there? We don’t know.”

He added: “For a long time, we’ve been combing the city with low-intensity attacks and intelligence channels; every suspicious vehicle, every individual was targeted. Even if they are there, proving their presence is becoming harder by the day.”

It is clear that Israel’s actual goal in Gaza City is to drive the population southward.

Since August, the Israeli army has deployed more than 180 explosive-laden robots or remote-controlled vehicles to devastate the city.

Neighborhoods such as Tel al-Hawa, Sheikh Radwan, and al-Tuffah have been among the main sites where Israel has destroyed civilian buildings.

Israeli officers report that over 200 mainly civilian structures have been demolished, and armored units have been deployed to exploit the destructive impact of these operations in an already heavily damaged city.

Paratrooper brigades 162 and 98, along with armored units, are advancing through the city.

Contrary to Israel’s previous claims, these forces have faced little resistance from Palestinian fighters; the 36th Brigade of the Israeli army is expected to enter Gaza City within days, indicating a large-scale assault.

Approximately half of Gaza City’s residents remain; for the responsible Israeli military officers, the remaining 400,000 civilians are considered a target.

Israeli officers say the army intends to fully encircle the city within a week.

This month, Israel issued 13 eviction orders, nearly all aimed at evacuating northern residents.

Operation Gideon II, as this new assault is called, is a calculated campaign for territorial reshaping, coordinated with the U.S.

Israel is preparing to bring northern Gaza completely under its control ahead of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly, which begins Monday.

According to Israeli officers, behind the scenes there is a belief that if the Gaza City operation proceeds as planned, Netanyahu intends to announce victory at the UN on September 26.