Israeli forces have breached the front line of Hamas defenses in northern Gaza, an Israeli military spokesman announced Thursday morning, November 2.
Israel Defense Forces spokesman Major General Daniel Hagari confirmed the new development, saying, “The ground operation is proceeding as planned.
Major General Hagari said, “Thanks to advance planning, accurate intelligence, and joint attacks (from land, air, and sea), our forces have broken through Hamas’ defensive front lines in the northern Gaza Strip.”
Brig. Gen. Itzik Cohen, commander of the Israel Defense Forces’ 162nd Division, added that Israeli forces have advanced deep into Gaza and are “right at the gates of Gaza City.” He added that in the past five days, the Israel Defense Forces have destroyed many of Hamas’ capabilities, attacking strategic installations, a number of explosives, underground tunnels, and other facilities.
Cohen said it has been a long job and much work remains to be done.
The IDF also claimed to have killed Muhammad Assar, commander of Hamas’ anti-tank guided missile group. According to the military, Assar had full responsibility for Hamas’ anti-tank missile units throughout the Gaza Strip, commanding them in peacetime and supporting their operations in emergencies. Under his command, numerous missile attacks were launched against Israeli civilians and Israel Defense Forces soldiers, the Pentagon added.
Hamas claims that at least 195 Palestinians were killed in the Israeli attack on the Jabalia refugee camp, while more than 120 are missing under the rubble. At least 777 people were injured, the statement said.
The UN Human Rights Commission called the attack a war crime. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights wrote on the social media site X: “Given the high number of civilian casualties and the scale of destruction following the Israeli airstrikes against the Jabalia refugee camp, I have serious concerns that this is a disproportionate attack that could amount to a war crime.”
