Hamas fighters, armed with rocket-propelled grenade launchers and assault rifles, clashed with Israeli soldiers supported by armored vehicles in the ruins of the besieged north of the territory.
The remnants of what was once the main arterial route in north Gaza were marked by broken palm trees, mangled road signs, and twisted lampposts, observed by an AFP journalist embedded with Israeli troops during a controlled visit.
Israeli flags now flew over buildings at beach resorts in northern Gaza, and the destruction left little sign of human presence, with hundreds of thousands having fled a dire humanitarian situation, France 24 reported.
This widespread devastation is the outcome of over a month of war triggered by Hamas attacks on Israel starting on October 7.
On that fateful day, gunmen from the Islamist group crossed the Gaza border into Israel, allegedly causing the death of 1,400 people and capturing around 240 hostages, constituting the worst attack in the country’s history.
Written by B.C. Begley
B.C. Begley 