It could take Israeli forces months to seize complete control over Gaza City, the Hamas stronghold that is now surrounded by troops and armor, as they push to root out militants scattered across the urban battleground.
Israel has warned that the fighting will be brutal as it seeks to capture the city block-by-block and defeat Hamas fighters hiding among civilians or staked out in a vast network of underground tunnels.
“Gaza is the largest terror base built by mankind, ever — the entire city is one big terror base,“ said Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on television Tuesday, vowing to continue fighting until full victory is achieved. “We are gnawing away at this capability.”
While it’s possible the city could fall within a month, Israel has moved fairly slowly as forces gradually tighten an encirclement of Gaza City. The United States, Israel’s key backer in the war, has urged the military to minimize civilian casualties, and Hamas is still believed to be holding more than 200 hostages — both of which are potential factors in the deliberate pace so far.
Ensuring the complete destruction of the military infrastructure of Hamas, which killed more than 1,400 Israelis and snatched some 240 hostages in a surprise attack Oct. 7, will be even more challenging.
“The intensity of this is about to pick up,” said Jonathan Spyer, the director of research at the Middle East Forum. “It takes time, it takes effort, it takes boots on the ground, and it can also take considerable losses.”
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