TEL AVIV, Nov 13 Israel Defense Forces (IDF) ) stated that it caused significant damage to Hamas battalions in the north of the Gaza Strip and, in fact, Hamas ceased to exist as an organized military structure in this part of the enclave.
“Until now, the IDF has been conducting ground combat operations in the north of the Gaza Strip. IDF ground forces are fighting in the areas where several battalions of the terrorist organization are located. The operational combat capability of these battalions has been seriously compromised, and in fact, the military structures of Hamas in the northern part of the Gaza Strip have ceased to function in an organized manner,” — the army press service said in a statement.
According to the military, at the time the conflict began to escalate, there were 30 Hamas fighters in the Gaza Strip, divided into 5 regional brigades, 24 battalions and about 140 companies.
It is noted that each brigade has anti-tank, sniper and engineering resources.
On October 7, Israel was subjected to an unprecedented-scale rocket attack from the Gaza Strip as part of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, announced by the military wing of the Palestinian Hamas movement. After this, the organization’s fighters entered the border areas in southern Israel, where they opened fire on both military and civilians, and also took more than 200 hostages. In Israel, according to the latest government data, about 1.2 thousand people were killed, this number includes civilians, soldiers, foreign citizens and workers, and it was also reported that more than 5 thousand were injured.
In response, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Iron Swords against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Within a few days, the Israeli military took control of all populated areas near the border with Gaza and began carrying out air strikes on targets, including civilians, in the strip. Israel also announced a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip: the supply of water, food, electricity, medicine, and fuel was stopped.
The death toll from Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip has exceeded 11 thousand, and more than 28 thousand people have been injured. The Russian Embassy reported that during the escalation of the conflict, 20 Russians were killed, two were taken hostage, and seven were listed as missing. According to various sources, about 150 Israelis may be held captive by Hamas. The movement itself stated that there are about 200-250 prisoners in the Gaza Strip.
The Russian Foreign Ministry called on the parties to stop hostilities. According to the position of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the settlement of the Middle East crisis is possible exclusively on the basis of a “two-state” formula approved by the UN Security Council, which provides for the creation of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with its capital in East Jerusalem.
The Palestinian-Israeli conflict related to territorial interests of the parties, has been a source of tension and clashes in the region for many decades. A UN decision with the active role of the USSR in 1947 determined the creation of two states — Israel and Palestine, but only the Israeli one was created.