Fierce battles in northern Gaza reported for first time in week

By Ramzy Mahmoud

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) - Battles were reported early Tuesday in the northern Gaza Strip between the Israeli army and Palestinian resistance groups marking the first in a week, according to an Anadolu correspondent.

The correspondent said heavy fighting was heard in eastern Jabalia and Beit Hanoun.

Heavy tank shells were heard and smoke could be seen rising from the areas of fighting. Israeli warplanes fired lightning bombs to detect the locations of Palestinian fighters.

The clashes are reported to be the first in almost one week as the Israeli army had withdrawn from large areas in the north toward the outskirts of Palestinian towns in the eastern and northern border areas of Gaza.

Israeli army spokesperson Daniel Hagari affirmed a decrease in the intensity of fighting Monday in northern areas, while he said the army is focusing on Hamas strongholds in Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis, in central and southern Gaza.

A total of 180 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the start of an Israeli ground operation in Gaza on Oct. 27.

Israel has launched air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, on Oct. 7.

At least 23,084 Palestinians have since been killed and 58,926 injured, according to Gaza’s health authorities. Nearly 1,200 Israelis are believed to have been killed in the Hamas attack.

The Israeli onslaught has left Gaza in ruins, with 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure damaged or destroyed, and nearly 2 million residents displaced amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar