On Sunday, Palestinian factions in Gaza claimed responsibility for an aggressive resistance operation against Israeli forces and reported several Israeli soldiers were killed or wounded during clashes within Gaza City. This incident marked one of the bloodiest phases of fighting ever experienced, both sides suffering significant casualties as the eleventh month progresses.
On Tuesday evening, according to statements released by resistance groups, fighters from anti-Israel resistance groups in central Gaza carried out an ambush against Israeli ground forces operating in a residential neighborhood of central Gaza. Local sources reported hearing gunfire and explosions while militants targeted them with IEDs and anti-tank rockets.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed its troops had engaged in combat, yet offered limited details. Military spokespeople noted “casualties among our forces” and said injured soldiers were evacuated for treatment; per protocol, IDF did not immediately release an estimate of killed or wounded personnel.
Urban Combat
Israel troops face increasing risks as the war shifts deeper into densely populated neighborhoods. Analysts observe that resistance groups have adjusted to prolonged fighting by employing tunnels, booby traps, and close quarters ambushes to strike against Israeli units and inflict losses upon them.
“Urban warfare in Gaza gives defenders an immense edge,” noted regional security analyst Karim Haddad. These attacks are intended to slow Israeli advances, increase costs, and show that armed groups remain capable of undertaking coordinated operations.
Civilian Casualty Increases
While this clash focused on military forces, civilians in surrounding areas also felt its effects. Residents reported homes damaged by shelling as Israeli airstrikes responded with airstrikes against escape routes used by fighters during ambushes; emergency workers in Gaza claimed multiple civilian deaths were killed during Israeli retaliatory bombardments that followed; this only further adds to what had already become a staggering death toll.
The Gaza Health Ministry reported that hospitals remain overburdened, with shortages of medicine and fuel compounding their distress. International aid agencies warned that continued escalation will push Gaza closer towards total humanitarian collapse.
Israeli officials pledged that these attacks would not thwart their campaign to dismantle Hamas and other militant factions, insisting “our forces will continue to operate until Gaza is free of terrorist infrastructure”. IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari stated Israel’s goal remains the destruction of resistance command networks as well as recovery of hostages.
Israeli officials also rejected international calls for a ceasefire, asserting that suspending operations now would only embolden militants further.
International Reactions
The incident generated swift international reactions. The UN expressed deep alarm over escalating violence and called on both sides to respect international humanitarian law. Regional mediators such as Egypt and Qatar sought renewed talks for a truce agreement; however, no tangible progress has been reported thus far.
As the conflict intensifies, new resistance operations such as Sunday’s are underscoring the unpredictable nature of urban warfare in Gaza. Israel faces increasing casualty rates among its troops that threaten both military strategy and domestic political stability; for Gaza residents each clash brings fresh devastation which only deepens an ongoing crisis that shows no sign of resolution anytime soon.