GAZA CITY: Gaza braces for a relentless and prolonged military operation as Israeli forces gear up for a major ground offensive, intensifying airstrikes on the besieged enclave targeting mostly innocent Palestinian civilians. The stage appears set for a deadly urban conflict in Gaza, reminiscent of previous devastating clashes.
On Friday, Israel issued an urgent call for civilians, including United Nations personnel, to evacuate Gaza City and move south within 24 hours, indicating the gravity of the imminent ground offensive.
Gaza, one of the most densely populated places globally, faces the grim possibility of witnessing urban warfare on a terrible scale, similar to past conflicts in Fallujah in 2004, Mosul in 2017, and Mariupol in 2022.
In 2014, Israel mobilized 75,000 reservists for a 50-day invasion. This time, 300,000 have been called up. Israeli elite units, armored vehicles, mechanized infantry, sappers, commandos, and special forces are expected to spearhead the ground assault, supported by artillery, drones, fighter jets, and combat helicopters.
Israeli Forces’ Ground Offensive in Gaza
Analysts anticipate an initial objective of dividing the Gaza Strip, isolating Rafah in the south from Gaza City in the north. This could involve mechanized and armored operations to secure main roads, similar to the strategy employed in Beirut in 1982, preceding a coordinated assault from all directions by land, sea, and air.
Civilians in Gaza are caught in the Israeli airstrikes, with over 423,000 already displaced. The Israeli blockade on Gaza’s borders exacerbates their plight, leaving them with limited escape options.
