Reports in the Hebrew media, statements from Hamas and Palestinian witness accounts, described Israeli armour operating close to the Mediterranean coast in the north of Gaza in an area where Hamas said it was engaged in heavy fighting.
Witnesses said Israeli tanks had advanced to cut the main northsouth Salah al-Din road south of Gaza City and operating on the outskirts of the Zaytun district and Shejaiya neighbourhood of Gaza City.
Video taken by a local journalist was said to show an Israeli tank and bulldozer in central Gaza blocking the main highway and firing on a car, which is seen exploding.
Describing an increased tempo of urban fighting, the Israel Defence Forces spokesperson R Adm Daniel Hagari said Israeli troops were involved in fighting with armed Palestinian factions holed up in buildings. "Overnight, troops eliminated dozens of terrorists who barricaded themselves in the buildings and tried to attack the forces that were moving in their direction," he said, adding that fighting was continuing.
The Israeli military said in one incident a fighter jet targeted a building "with over 20 Hamas terrorist operatives inside", while another fighter jet was guided to an anti-tank missile launching post in the area of al-Azhar University, in the heart of Gaza City.
This story is from the October 31, 2023 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the October 31, 2023 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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