Israeli operation in Gaza turns into intense bombardment, with martyrs and casualties reported
Widespread ground escalation was witnessed in the western areas of Gaza City following the infiltration of a special Israeli force into the Katiba and Ansar neighborhoods near the American Hospital, before intense clashes and heavy gunfire erupted, followed by intensive Israeli airstrikes targeting the area’s surroundings.
Palestinian sources stated that the Israeli special force was exposed while carrying out a security operation in the area, leading to an armed clash. The Israeli Air Force intervened heavily to provide cover for the force and secure its movement, amid intense flights of drones, helicopters, and warplanes.
Israeli media reported that violent clashes broke out after the special force was discovered. Later, the Israeli military announced that it carried out strikes against several targets in the Gaza Strip to “eliminate threats” to its forces, adding that, according to its account, no casualties occurred among its troops.
Conversely, Palestinian sources reported that civilians were killed and injured as a result of the shelling. Medical sources stated that three Palestinians were martyred and others were injured after an Israeli drone targeted a civilian vehicle in the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood in southwestern Gaza City. Other areas in the Strip also came under shelling and gunfire, including the Souq al-Basatin area in the Shuja’iyya neighborhood, coinciding with the advance of Israeli armored vehicles near the Wadi Gaza Bridge on Salah al-Din Street.
The Katiba and Ansar area witnessed a series of successive raids. Local sources reported more than 10 explosions, while other reports indicated that at least 12 raids were carried out within minutes, alongside strikes on vehicles in the area’s vicinity. Field reports indicated that the intensity of the shelling and gunfire hindered the arrival of ambulances to some areas, while strikes trapped families and displaced persons inside homes, tents, and buildings in the area, which hosts displaced communities.
The nature of the mission carried out by the Israeli special force and its ultimate objective remain unclear. While Israeli media reported that a special force infiltrated the perimeter of the American Hospital, other reports indicated that the force was moving using a bus and motorcycles before falling into an ambush and sparking an armed clash.
Channel 12 also revealed that the army arrested the head of Hamas’s General Security Service, confirming that the arrested official was injured during the operation and transported to Tel Aviv.
In response, Ismail al-Thawabta, director of the Gaza Government Media Office, stated that the Israeli force was carrying out a security mission and that its exposure prompted the Israeli military to use heavy aerial cover. He mentioned the occurrence of casualties, including members of the special force, information not confirmed by the Israeli military in its official account.
This escalation comes as Israeli forces continue bombing and firing operations in various areas of the Gaza Strip, despite the ceasefire agreement that has been in effect since last October, amid mutual accusations of violations.
The toll of the Israeli operation in western Gaza City is expected to rise, given the ongoing search and evacuation efforts and the difficulty for medical teams to reach some targeted areas.
