Al-Manar Exclusive: Maps Show Why Resistance in Gaza is Unbreakable

March 20, 2024

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Marwa Haidar

Maps prepared by Mohamamd Assaf

Nearly five months on the start of the Israeli ground offensive in Gaza, the Palestinian resistance, by its unwavering resolve, still stands as an impenetrable barrier, despite the relentless aggression and the horrific genocide.

Started on October 27, 2023, the ground offensive was declared with the stated goals of eliminating Hamas and releasing the captives taken by the resistance group during the heroic Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7th.

Despite attempts of advance throughout long weeks of ferocious fighting, the Israeli occupation army failed to secure its presence in numerous areas across the strip, and was forced to pull out several brigades from Gaza.

Al-Manar has prepared several maps that show the course of the battlefield since the start of the ground invasion. The maps provide a comprehensive visual representation of the battlefield’s dynamics and tactical maneuvers.

Maps Talk

On the evening of 27 October, the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) launched a large-scale ground assault on the towns of Beit Hanoun and Bureij in the Gaza Strip. A day later, the occupation military said the deployed units were still on the ground, marking the beginning of the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip.

During the first month of the ground offensive, the Israeli incursions initially took place at two areas: Beit Hanoun in the north and in the area near Juhr Al-Deek in the strip’s center, south of the Gaza City (Map 1 gives more details). The occupation troops then expanded their presence from the north to the west, and then to the center.

By November 18, the occupation military ended up in cutting the Gaza Strip in to two halves, the north and the south, and in encircling the Gaza City.

Later in December, the IOF attempted to stage a new incursion in the south, near Al-Qarara city, north of Khan Younis (Map 2). In this stage, the Palestinian resistance was still capable to stage attacks against the occupation forces in the north.

Two weeks later (by December 19), the occupation forces tried to expand their presence in the north, the center and the south (Map3).  During this phase, heavy losses were inflicted upon the IOF who were met by fierce resistance.

By December 22, the Israeli occupation army pulled out several brigades from Gaza, including the Golani Brigade, after significant losses inflicted upon (Map 4 gives more details).

The resistance’s say was decisive later in January: The Israeli occupation can never control the northern area of the Gaza strip, it can only lay siege to the area and try to make another attempt in the south, in Al-Qarara and Khan Younis (Map 5 gives details).

During February, the Israeli occupation army tried to bolster its military presence in the north.

In March, and nearly five months on the start of the ground invasion, the Israeli occupation military withdrew from several areas in the Strip’s center and south. It ended up building a 1-kilometer deep path on the Gaza Strip’s border with the occupied territories in Gaza envelope (as shown in Map 6).

The Unbreakable Resistance

By March 19, the official Israeli death toll, announced by the occupation military since the start of the ground offensive, stood at 251, with estimations that the real figures have been far greater.

Fighting in an urban environment, the Israeli troops have been facing many challenging factors that shaped the outcome of the military engagements.

Of these challenging factors are the booby traps and shells. These local-made explosive devices have been used by the well-trained resistance fighters, frequently at point-blank range.

Furthermore, the complex tunnel system in the Gaza Strip is seen by the occupation army as a serious problem. Fighters can move between the buildings without actually going outside into the street, indicating that soldiers are susceptible to ambush.

On the other hand, the resistance fighters are seen as a formidable adversary to the occupation army as they are the native people of Palestine. They are familiar with the territory in Gaza and have been preparing for this for a long time.

Ultimately, the Israeli ambitions have crumbled against the resilience of the Palestinians, leaving their hopes of conquest dashed against the achievements secured by the unbreakable resistance.

Source: Al-Manar English Website

Day 78: Gaza Resistance Still Steady Despite Israeli Carpet Bombing

December 23, 2023

Screen shot of a video showing Al-Qassam fighters targeting Israei occupation forces in Beit Lahia.

Israeli occupation continues its deadly bombardment of Gaza as the Palestinian resistance shows ultimate levels of resilience and courage on day 78 of the brutal aggression.

Al-Qassam and Al-Quds Brigades, the military wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad resistance movements said their fighters have been engaging Israeli occupation forces in several areas across the Gaza Strip’s north and center.

Al-Qassam declared that its fighters detonated the shaft of a tunnel as an Israeli special force approached the tunnel in Juhr Al-Deek area in central Gaza strip. The resistance fighters then fired mortar shells at an Israeli unit which tried to save the first force.

The resistance group also said that one of its fighters managed to kill four Israeli soldiers after firing at them at point-blank range in Al-Qasasib neighborhood in Jabalia refugee camp.

Al-Qassam also announced that its fighters relaunched two unexploded missiles fired from Israeli warplanes. The missiles destroyed five tanks, inflicting losses upon their crews.

The military wing of Hamas resistance movement released two videos showing the clashes with occupation forces in Beit Lahia and Al-Magharka.

For its part, Al-Quds Brigades said their fighters destroyed a Merkava tank with a tandem charge projectile in Abu Sharakh roundabout in the Gaza Strip’s north.

Meanwhile, Al-Quds Brigades issued a video showing rockets launched towards the Israeli settlements bordering Gaza.

Israeli media, for its part, reported that sirens sounded in Gaza envelope settlements.

Al-Quds Brigades also released a video showing sniper activity against Israeli occupation forces east of Shejaiya neighborhood.

Carpet Bombing

On the other hand, the Israeli occupation pressed on with its deadly bombardment, described as carpet bombing, in several areas across the besieged enclave, as international organizations called for ceasefire, citing catastrophic humanitarian conditions.

The relentless strikes targeted, among other regions, Jabalia in the north, Nusseirat refugee camp in central Gaza and Deir Al-Balah in the strip’s south.

Earlier on Friday, the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza put the death toll of the Israeli aggression at 20,057, adding that the number of injured people reached 53,320.

Thomas White, director of UNRWA affairs in Gaza, said the UN Security Council’s resolution “falls well short of what we need here in Gaza”.

“We need a ceasefire that will stop the killing of civilians and the destruction of civilian infrastructure in Gaza, but most importantly, to enable conditions on the ground here so we can effectively deliver aid to the people of Gaza,” White told Al Jazeera.

On its turn, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has reiterated the need for a ceasefire to deliver aid.

“The way Israel is prosecuting this war, with US support, is causing massive death and suffering among Palestinian civilians and is inconsistent with international norms and laws. Even war has rules,” MSF said on X.

“Stop attacks on hospitals, healthcare workers and ambulances.”

Source: Al-Manar English Website