An Israeli military analyst said that the army moved towards the south Gaza strip “It is surrounded by difficulties,” the first of which is the population density of Palestinians after the wave of displacement from the north, which makes the south of the Strip “more difficult to maneuver.”
Military analyst Amir Boukhbout wrote in an article on the Israeli “Wala” news website on Monday that the Israeli army is preparing to carry out a “ground maneuver” towards the southern Gaza Strip after army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevy approved the continuation of ground fighting, but army sources reported that “southern The Gaza Strip will be more difficult to maneuver.”
Boukhbout pointed out that the difficulty of maneuvering in the south of the Gaza Strip is due to several reasons, the first of which is that this part of the Gaza Strip includes a very large number of Palestinians who left their homes in the north and center of the Gaza Strip, and are now living densely in shelters, tents, or in the homes of relatives and friends.
He added that in addition to that, with the beginning of the Israeli ground operation in the northern Gaza Strip, “many enemies also fled to the south, including the ranks of the field command and the senior leadership of the (Islamic Resistance) movement.” agitation“.
He continued, “Various sources also claim that most of the kidnapped people were also transferred to hideouts in the southern Gaza Strip.”
The Israeli analyst pointed out that there is currently a fear that the negotiations behind the release of detainees “aim to delay or prevent a ground maneuver by the Israeli army deep into the Palestinian territories.”
Pretexts to bomb the south
On the other hand, the Israeli analyst pointed out that “senior army officers claim that the southern region of the Gaza Strip provides the army with operational opportunities in ground maneuvers,” and said that these sources claim that in this way “it will be possible to study the type of soil in the area and the underground systems built there.” “.
He continued, “The southern Gaza Strip will also be another opportunity to apply the Israeli army’s combat methods and the insights learned from the fighting in the northern and central Gaza Strip.”
He pointed out that “the advance into the southern Gaza Strip comes after an assessment of the situation that was conducted yesterday, Sunday, during which the Chief of Staff approved the Southern Command’s plan to continue ground fighting in Gaza,” explaining that the army is currently awaiting the Prime Minister’s approval. Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Israeli ground attack, which was launched on October 27, was limited to the northern Gaza Strip after forcing large numbers of Palestinian residents to move south, as it was considered a “safe zone.”
Last Saturday evening, the Israeli Defense Minister announced that the army “moved to the second phase of ground operations in Gaza,” indicating that “Israel’s war on Hamas is comprehensive,” and threatening to “assassinate politicians in the movement as well,” without indicating the presence of planned ground operations. It was in the southern Gaza Strip during that phase of the battles.
About 1.5 million displaced people in the southern Gaza Strip are living in difficult conditions after leaving their homes as a result of the devastating Israeli war on the Gaza Strip since last October 7, and most of them are sleeping in the streets, according to previous statements by the Palestinian Red Crescent.
For 45 days, the Israeli occupation army has been waging a devastating war on the Gaza Strip, leaving more than 13,000 martyrs, including more than 5,500 children and 3,500 women, in addition to more than 30,000 injured, 75% of whom are children and women, according to the government media office in Gaza.
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