The Battle of Tel al-Hawa is an ongoing battle in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hamas-led Palestinian forces in the neighborhood of Tel al-Hawa in Gaza City.
| Battle of Tel al-Hawa | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the siege of Gaza City during the Israel-Hamas war | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Israel |
 Hamas Palestinian Islamic Jihad Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine[1] Palestinian Mujahideen Movement | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
|
Al Qassam Brigades Al-Quds Brigades National Resistance Brigades Mujahideen Brigades | |||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
Per Hamas: Dozens of soldiers killed or wounded[2] |
 Unknown | ||||||
Background
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had begun an ongoing general siege of Gaza City on 2 November 2023 as part of the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip, itself a response to the October 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel which began the war.
Battle
The IDF first advanced into Tel al-Hawa on 3 November 2023,[3] and began besieging the al-Quds Hospital in the neighborhood on 10 November.[4] Clashes between the IDF and Hamas were reported around the hospital, with Israel alleging that Hamas had placed command centres inside and around the building.[5] Fighting in Tel al-Hawa between the IDF and Palestinian forces continued throughout December 2023[6][7][8] and January 2024.[9][10][11]
In late January, the IDF killed Hind Rajab, a six-year old Palestinian girl, in Tel al-Hawa, along with six other family members and two paramedics from the Palestine Red Crescent Society who were coming to rescue her. The girl and her family had been fleeing from the neighborhood amidst heavy fighting.[12]
Contradictory reports about fighting in Tel al-Hawa surfaced in the following months. Supposedly, the IDF had finished clearing Tel al-Hawa of Hamas in February.[13] However, it was also reported that fighting continued inside the neighborhood, with Hamas launching almost daily attacks on the IDF there since 24 March.[14]
In any case, there was a large-scale IDF invasion into Tel al-Hawa on 8 July, beginning with a large wave of airstrikes followed by a ground offensive. During this time, the IDF was also still operating in Shuja'iyya, another Gaza City neighborhood.[15] Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Palestinian Mujahideen Movement fought IDF troops in the neighorbood, detonating explosive devices and firing shells and rockets.[16][17] During one engagement, the IDF fought Palestinian militants who had fortified themselves inside an abandoned UNRWA compound.[16]
On 12 July, the IDF withdrew from most of Tel al-Hawa. It was reported that dozens of Palestinians had been killed,[18] and there was significant infrastructural damage.[16] However, it was reported that IDF snipers and tanks remained in "control [of] some high ground", warning residents against trying to return.[16]
In a brief operation on 20 July, the IDF raided buildings in Tel al-Hawa where Hamas fighters were located.[19]
On 26 July, fighting between the IDF and Hamas resumed in Tel al-Hawa.[20][21] The same day, Hamas attacked IDF tanks inside the neighborhood with explosives.[22]
References
- ^ "IRAN UPDATE, JANUARY 31, 2024".
- ^ "Hamas' armed wing claims killings of Israeli soldiers in Gaza-Xinhua".
- ^ "IRAN UPDATE, NOVEMBER 4, 2023". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
- ^ "IRAN UPDATE, NOVEMBER 10, 2023". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
- ^ "Israel's war on Hamas homes in on Gaza hospitals". Reuters. 11 November 2023.
- ^ "IRAN UPDATE, DECEMBER 1, 2023". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
- ^ "IRAN UPDATE, DECEMBER 5, 2023". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
- ^ "IRAN UPDATE, DECEMBER 20, 2023". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
- ^ "IRAN UPDATE, JANUARY 22, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
- ^ "IRAN UPDATE, JANUARY 29, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
- ^ "IRAN UPDATE, JANUARY 31, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
- ^ "'They killed her twice': Hind Rajab's mother mourns girl, 6, found killed days after being trapped under Israeli fire". NBC News. 11 February 2024. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
- ^ "IRAN UPDATE, JULY 8, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
- ^ "IRAN UPDATE, APRIL 1, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
- ^ Fabian, Emanuel (8 July 2024). "IDF troops advance into Gaza City's Tel al-Hawa neighborhood – Palestinian media reports". The Times of Israel.
- ^ a b c d Al-Mughrabi, Nidal; Abu Alkas, Dawoud (12 July 2024). "Rescuers say they find dozens of bodies after Israelis scale back Gaza City fight with Hamas". Reuters.
- ^ "Israeli army struggles in northern Gaza". Tehran Times. 2024-07-09. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
- ^ "Emergency workers uncover dozens of bodies in a Gaza City district after Israeli assault". AP News. 2024-07-12. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
- ^ "IRAN UPDATE, JULY 20, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
- ^ "IRAN UPDATE, JULY 28, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
- ^ Al-Mughrabi, Nidal (28 July 2024). "Israeli forces battle Palestinian fighters in southern Gaza". Reuters.
- ^ "Al-Qassam Brigades says it destroyed 2 Israeli tanks in southern Gaza City". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2024-07-29.