Click to see full-size image. Source: the Israeli Defense Forces.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on November 5 that it has struck more than 2,500 targets in Gaza from land, air and sea since the start of the ground operation in the Strip a week ago.
The IDF also said troops continued battles with the Hamas Movement and other Palestinian armed factions in northern Gaza overnight.
Ground forces directed warplanes to strike Hamas infrastructure, weapons storage sites, observation posts and command centers, according to the IDF.
Separately, the IDF announced the death of a soldier from the 934th “Topaz” Reconnaissance Battalion from the 933rd “Nahal” Brigade. This brought the toll of slain troops since Israel launched its ground operation in Gaza to 29.
From its side, Hamas’ military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, said that its fighters had destroyed a main battle tank of the IDF to the northwest outskirts of Gaza City and two others to the southwest of the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood in the southern outskirts of the city in northern Gaza. The three tanks were targeted with rocket-propelled grenades.
The al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, also reported that its fighters clashed with an IDF force that advanced in the al-Farahin area to the east of the city of Khan Yunis in the southern part of the Strip.
It’s worth noting that the IDF managed to encircle Gaza City from the south on November 1. Now, Israeli troops are slowly advancing along al-Rasheed Street on the coast of Gaza and towards the city of Beit Lahia in the northwestern part of the Strip.
Once the cost of Gaza is captured, the troops will likely attempt to storm the highly-dense city. The IDF opened a route to allow the evacuation of remaining civilians in the city towards the south. However, the route will remain open for a few hours only and repeated strikes are hindering the evacuation process.
