Hamas Pursues Israeli Forces in Major Gaza Cities – Reuters

By Nidal al-Mughrabi, Bassam Masoud, and Dan Williams

DOHA/GAZA/JERUSALEM – Palestinian gunmen intensified their attacks on Israeli forces in the main cities of the Gaza Strip on Sunday, weeks after these areas were overrun by Israeli troops, indicating that Hamas still retains some level of control as talks for a potential truce continue.

As the conflict reaches nearly four months since the violent cross-border assault by Hamas that triggered the current war, fighting was ongoing in both Gaza City, located in the north, and Khan Younis in the south.

During a weekly cabinet meeting, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that 17 of Hamas’ 24 combat battalions had been dismantled, with the remaining forces primarily located in southern Gaza, particularly in Rafah, near the Egyptian border.

"We will deal with them as well," Netanyahu stated, adding that Hamas does not disclose its losses.

The potential military operation in Rafah is causing concern among the hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians who have taken refuge there after fleeing from other areas. This situation is particularly troubling for Egypt, which has expressed its refusal to accept a surge of Palestinian refugees, fearing a permanent change in the regional demographics.

An Israeli official indicated that the military intends to coordinate with Egyptian authorities to explore options for evacuating most displaced individuals northward prior to any ground operations in Rafah.

Reports from Palestinians detailed Israeli airstrikes and tank shelling in Rafah, including an attack that took the lives of two young girls inside a house. A relative, Mohammed Kaloub, recounted that the strike hit a room crowded with women and children.

"There is no safe place in Gaza, from one border to the other," Kaloub stated.

According to Palestinian health officials, eight individuals were killed in separate airstrikes on Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza, which remains one of the few cities in the enclave where Israeli tanks have not yet been deployed.

Israeli forces have conducted partial withdrawals from Gaza City in recent weeks, allowing some residents to return to their homes and assess the damage. Netanyahu characterized these actions as "mopping-up operations."

Before dawn on Sunday, airstrikes resulted in the destruction of several multi-story buildings, including a housing project funded by Egypt. The military reported the killing of seven Hamas fighters in northern Gaza and the capture of weapons. Israeli military radio announced that troops in the area were attempting to infiltrate Hamas bunkers, a task that could take up to two weeks amid ongoing clashes.

"Gaza City is being wiped out," one unnamed resident told reporters. "The (Israeli) pull-out was a ruse."

In Khan Younis, overnight shelling by Israeli forces resulted in the deaths of three Palestinians, medical sources stated. Local residents noted intense street fighting in western and southern parts of the city, where Israel confirmed a soldier was killed in a Palestinian attack on Saturday.

Israeli troops in Khan Younis reported the capture of a Hamas compound and the killing of several armed militants. Netanyahu stated that Israeli forces in the area were actively "neutralizing" Hamas tunnels that facilitate militant activities.

"This will require additional time," he informed his ministers.

Gaza health authorities indicated that over 27,300 Palestinians have been reported killed since the onset of the conflict, with approximately 70% being women and children. Thousands more are feared missing amid the ruins.

Israel claims to have eliminated around 10,000 militants in its efforts to dismantle Hamas following the October 7 assault by the group, which aims for Israel’s destruction. In that initial attack, 1,200 individuals were reportedly killed, with 253 taken hostage, as per Israeli statistics.

Currently, more than 130 hostages remain in Gaza, and discussions regarding their potential release by Hamas are part of ongoing negotiations mediated by Egypt and Qatar, with backing from the United States, aimed at securing a ceasefire.

Hamas has called for an end to hostilities, which Israel has dismissed but has expressed openness to a temporary truce.

In a related development, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met with French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne on Sunday, emphasizing Egypt’s commitment to collaborative efforts in establishing a ceasefire and facilitating humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza.