Click to see full-size image. (The Israeli Defense Forces)
On December 22, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) called on the residents of central Gaza’s Bureij town to evacuate south, and head for shelters in the area Deir al-Balah, in what appears to be preparations to expand ground operations in the Strip.
Lieutenant colonel Avichay Adraee, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman, published a map of the zones that need to be evacuated.
The spokesman also said that Gaza’s main north-south highway, Salah ad-Din, in the areas northeast of Khan Younis, still remains a “battle zone.” However, he noted that the IDF will facilitate the movement of civilians via a bypass route along the coast.
In addition, Lt. Col. Adraee announced that the IDF will make “tactical pauses in military activities” in the western neighborhoods of Rafah in southern Gaza, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., for “humanitarian purposes.”
Click to see full-size image. (The Israeli Defense Forces)
The first phase of Israeli ground operations, which began on October 27, isolated the northern part of Gaza from the rest of the Strip. IDF troops occupied much of Gaza City, including the beach front, and established a presence in the city of Beit Lahia.
Israel expanded ground operations to include Khan Yunis after the week-long ceasefire in Gaza ended on December 1. The IDF reported an advance in the city more than once. However, it is still unclear how much of the city has been occupied by its troops.
Now the IDF is apparently planning to expand its ground operations by launching an offensive in Bureij and its surroundings in central Gaza.
Another offensive in Gaza will put more strain on Israeli troops, who are already facing fierce resistance from the Hamas Movement and other Palestinian armed factions. It will also worsen the humanitarian situation in Gaza. So far, more than 20,000 Palestinians have been killed by IDF fire.
