The Battle of Tel al-Hawa was a 4-day military battle between Israel and the Hamas-led Palestinian forces during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, in the neighborhood of Tel al-Hawa in Gaza City. It lasted from 8 July 2024[2] to 12 July 2024,[3] and ended in an Israeli withdrawal from most of Tel al-Hawa.[3][4]
| Battle of Tel Al-Hawa | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the siege of Gaza City during the Israel-Hamas war | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Israel |
 Hamas Palestinian Islamic Jihad Palestinian Mujahideen Movement | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
|
Al Qassam Brigades Al-Quds Brigades Mujahideen Brigades | |||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
Per Hamas: Dozens of soldiers killed or wounded[1] |
 Unknown | ||||||
Background
editThe 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.
Previously in February 2024, the IDF had killed Hind Rajab, a six-year old Palestinian girl, in Tel al-Hawa.[5]
Battle and aftermath
editThe IDF invasion of Tel al-Hawa began on 8 July 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.[2]
During the battle, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Palestinian Mujahideen Movement fought IDF troops, detonating explosive devices and firing shells and rockets.[3][6] During one engagement, the IDF fought Palestinian militants who had fortified themselves inside an abandoned UNRWA compound.[3]
On 12 July, the IDF withdrew from Tel al-Hawa. It was reported that dozens of Palestinians had been killed,[4] and there was significant infrastructural damage.[3] However, it was reported that IDF snipers and tanks remained in "control [of] some high ground", warning residents against trying to return.[3]
References
edit- ^ "Hamas' armed wing claims killings of Israeli soldiers in Gaza-Xinhua".
- ^ a b 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 e f 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.
- ^ a b "Emergency workers uncover dozens of bodies in a Gaza City district after Israeli assault". AP News. 2024-07-12. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
- ^ "'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.
- ^ "Israeli army struggles in northern Gaza". Tehran Times. 2024-07-09. Retrieved 2024-07-14.