RAFAH, Palestinian Territories: Israel’s military said on Thursday (Nov 2) its forces have surrounded Gaza City in the Hamas-run and densely populated Palestinian territory as they pressed their assault against the Islamist group.
The Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, warned Israel that its invading soldiers would go home “in black bags”.
Spokesman Abu Obeida said: “Gaza will be the curse of history for Israel.”
The Hamas warning came after Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari said troops had completely surrounded Gaza City after days of expanding ground operations.
“Israeli soldiers have completed the encirclement of the city of Gaza, the centre of the Hamas terror organisation,” Hagari told journalists.
“The concept of a ceasefire is not currently on the table at all,” he added.
Amid growing fears of the conflict spreading, Israel and Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon exchanged fire after a salvo of rockets slammed into a northern Israel town.
“WHOLE FAMILIES KILLED”
The Israeli army is also seeking to free around 240 hostages, both civilians and troops, captured by Hamas during the attacks.
About 332 soldiers have already died in the Oct 7 attacks and in the Israeli offensive the Hamas assault triggered.
Now gruelling urban warfare lies ahead deeper inside Gaza, where Hamas is fighting from a tunnel network spanning hundreds of kilometres.
Global concern has risen sharply over Israel’s response, in which the army says it has struck more than 12,000 targets so far.
The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry says more than 9,000 people have died, mostly women and children.
Special concern has focused on repeated heavy strikes on Gaza’s largest refugee camp – densely populated Jabalia, north of Gaza City – where explosions brought down residential buildings.
Gaza’s Hamas-ruled government said 195 were killed in two days of Israeli strikes on Jabalia, with hundreds more missing and wounded, figures AFP could not independently verify.
Major strikes also hit Gaza’s Bureij refugee camp and an area near a UN-run school in Jabalia on Thursday, where the health ministry said 27 had died.
Outside the Al-Quds hospital in Gaza City, displaced residents seeking shelter from Israeli strikes told AFP that civilians would not withstand the barrage much longer.
“This is not a life. We need a safe place for our kids,” said 50-year-old Hiyam Shamlakh. “Everybody is terrified, children, women and the elderly.”
Another Gazan, Mahmoud Abu Jarad, said civilians would not be able to tolerate another week of strikes. “We demand a ceasefire. This is the most important thing,” the 30-year-old said.
“DEATH EVERY DAY”
Israel has sought to justify the first Jabalia attack by saying it targeted a senior Hamas commander in a tunnel complex below the camp.
AFP has witnessed rescuers desperately clawing through the rubble and twisted metal in frantic attempts to bring out survivors and bodies.
Emergency responders say “whole families” have died.
The wounded were rushed away by cart, motorcycle and ambulance as anguished wails and blaring sirens filled the dusty air.
But Gaza’s hospitals are overwhelmed, short of medical supplies and often without electricity.
Violence has also flared in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where more than 130 Palestinians have died since Oct 7 according to the Palestinian health ministry.
On Thursday, three Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire, the ministry said, and an Israeli was killed in a Palestinian shooting attack, according to first responders.
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