By Athena Papakosta

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that they have surrounded Gaza City on three sides and are now operating inside the city and its neighborhoods. As the Chief of the General Staff of the Israeli Army, Herchi Halevi, pointed out in his televised message, “we are in the heart of Gaza with the IDF spokesman, Daniel Hagari, underlining that the Israeli forces are attacking outposts, headquarters and other infrastructure used by Hamas.

Before the start of the war, Gaza City was the most populated point in the Strip, but since October 13, the Israeli army has repeated the order for its citizens to head south. The exact number of civilians remaining at this point on the map remains unknown at this time with images arriving from the rubble-strewn Gaza City bearing witness to the devastation.

The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, in a written announcement, pointed out that “we are at the height of the battle” recording “impressive successes”.

According to analysts, the Israel Defense Forces have begun their advance into the Gaza Strip at a slow pace. As they note, before the start of the war, 15 minutes was enough to move from the north, on the border with Israel, to the center of Gaza City. However, with hostilities in full swing it took about a week.

So far, the IDF counts 17 Israeli soldiers dead in the field after anti-tank rockets hit their positions, while at the same time releasing videos of their operations in undisclosed locations.

Responding to the Israeli military’s announcement of the encirclement of Gaza City, Hamas’ armed wing warned that Gaza would prove to be a “disaster” for Israel and its soldiers would leave the Palestinian enclave dead, “in black sacks.”

Meanwhile, Israel and Hezbollah continue to exchange fire along the border with Lebanon with a rocket fired from the country hitting a residence in the northern Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona as the Iran-backed group claimed to have used two drones against Israeli forces.

For his part, Army General Staff Chief Herji Halevi openly warned the Shiite organization that “less than half” of the IDF’s air force is operating in the Gaza Strip “with most of the (air) power ready and equipped with bombs to attack on other fronts as well.”

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Washington was concerned about Hezbollah’s attacks against Israeli forces, but there was no indication the Iran-backed group was ready to launch a “full force” attack. ».

Today in Beirut is expected the Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah’s first public speech since the start of the war while in Israel will be the Secretary of State of the United States, Anthony Blinken who, according to a report by the New York Times, will urge the Israeli government to agree to a series of short pauses in military operations in Gaza to allow the safe release of hostages and the distribution of humanitarian aid.