Israel and Hamas Each Claim Wins in Fierce Fighting in Northern Gaza

After nearly three months of intensified Israeli military operations in northern Gaza, aimed at suppressing what Israel claims is a resurgence of Hamas, fighting continued fiercely on Monday, with both sides asserting gains against the other.https://wordpress.com/

The Israeli military issued a statement reporting that one of its soldiers had been killed during combat in the northern Gaza Strip, and three others from the same brigade had been seriously injured in the same clash. No further details were provided.

Hamas’ military wing, the Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility for destroying an Israeli vehicle in the northern town of Beit Hanoun, resulting in an unspecified number of casualties among Israeli soldiers. The group also stated that it had targeted Israeli forces in Jabaliya, another northern town, killing five soldiers.

The Israeli military declined to comment on these claims, stating that it does not respond to announcements from “terrorist organizations.”

In a separate development, the Israeli military reported that it had killed and arrested “multiple” militants during an overnight operation near Jabaliya, where the militants were attempting to flee, set traps, and carry out ambushes. This action followed a “targeted operation” against a Hamas command center located within Kamal Adwan Hospital, leading to the arrest of over 240 militants.

Israeli forces indicated that their operations in the area were ongoing.

Additionally, the Israeli military released footage it claimed was taken in Gaza, showing Hamas operatives planting explosives near the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza. The military stated that its forces had been operating near the hospital the previous week to “neutralize” militants who were attempting to escape, and had arrested “tens” of fighters, while also dismantling explosive devices. The military labeled this as another example of Hamas’s exploitation of civilian institutions in Gaza.

The authenticity of the footage could not be independently verified by The New York Times.

The ongoing battles around hospitals in northern Gaza have sparked international concern and criticism from humanitarian organizations.

France condemned Israeli military actions targeting several hospitals, including Kamal Adwan, which it said was now out of service. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs also expressed concern over the fate of the hospital’s director, Dr. Hussam Abu Safiyah, who was among the 240 individuals arrested by Israeli forces during the operation at the hospital on Friday.

Israeli officials have accused Hamas of using Kamal Adwan and other civilian facilities for military purposes, claiming that Dr. Abu Safiyah was a “suspect” being questioned for potential involvement in terrorism, though no evidence was provided to support these claims.

Dr. Abu Safiyah, who has been an outspoken critic of Israeli military actions in Gaza, particularly around the hospital, has documented the widespread death and devastation caused by the ongoing conflict. His family stated that, despite the hardships, including the loss of a son and personal injuries, he continued to serve as a critical support figure for civilians in northern Gaza.

Amnesty International’s secretary-general, Agnès Callamard, called for Dr. Abu Safiyah’s release, expressing “extreme concern” about his treatment in detention. The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, also demanded Dr. Abu Safiyah’s release and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities around medical facilities, which he said had become battlegrounds, threatening Gaza’s already fragile health system.

Dr. Abu Safiyah had previously shared a video in which he described the dire conditions at the hospital, with explosions audible in the background. He stated, “All night, we are bombarded in this way. We are being killed and slaughtered every day.”

Gaza’s health authorities reported on Monday that the death toll since the war began had exceeded 45,540, with more than two dozen people killed in the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, the Israeli military reported that, with the recent death of the soldier in northern Gaza, the total number of Israeli military casualties since the Hamas-led attack in October 2023 had reached 825, including those killed in the initial attack on October 7 and in fighting in Lebanon.