Israel Says Its Troops are Fighting in the ‘Heart’ of Gaza City

Hamas says its fighters took out 15 armored vehicles on Wednesday

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said late Tuesday that Israeli forces were fighting in the “heart” of Gaza City as Hamas is claiming its fighters are inflicting heavy losses on the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).

“IDF forces are in the heart of Gaza City,” Gallant said. “They came from the north and the south. They stormed it in full coordination between land, air and sea forces.”

According to The Cradle, Hamas’ al-Qassam Brigades said in a statement on Wednesday that since early that morning, its fighters destroyed “15 enemy vehicles in several areas in Gaza.” The Quds Brigade, the armed faction of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), also said it targeted Israeli armored vehicles.

Military situation in northern Gaza on November 8, 2023 (SouthFront.press)

The IDF said two of its soldiers were killed on Wednesday, bringing the Israeli death toll since the ground invasion began on October 27 to 33. Hamas has previously claimed more Israeli troops are being killed in the ground fighting than Israel is reporting. It’s unclear how many soldiers Israel has sent into the besieged enclave.

According to AP, clashes took place only 0.6 miles from al-Shifa Hospital, the largest medical facility in Gaza that’s packed with thousands of patients and people seeking refuge from the relentless Israeli airstrikes. Israel has previously bombed an ambulance leaving al-Shifa and is claiming Hamas has headquarters under the hospital.

The fighting in the north has caused thousands more Palestinians to flee on foot to the south, which is also being bombed by Israel. Gaza’s Health Ministry said Wednesday that since October 7, 10,569 Palestinians, including 4,324 children, have been killed in the Israeli bombardment.

Author: Dave DeCamp

Dave DeCamp is the news editor of Antiwar.com, follow him on Twitter @decampdave.