The Israeli Air Force is bringing less than half of its capabilities to bear in Operation Swords of Iron, IDF Chief-of-Staff Herzi Halevi said in a televised statement on Thursday afternoon.
The IDF significantly advanced and is now "in the heart" of the ground operation in the northern Gaza Strip.
Israeli forces have been operating in Gaza city, Halevi said, adding that it has been surrounded and encircled by the forces.
Fuel will move into Gaza with supervision, IDF chief says
Fuel will be moved into hospitals across the Gaza Strip only under strict Israeli supervision, Halevi also said. UN-flagged fuel trucks move towards the border crossing, amid the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, October 16, 2023 (credit: REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa)
"We still haven't allowed for fuel to go in," Halevi said when asked by a reporter on the state of the fuel crisis in the Strip. "For over a week, they have been saying the fuel is about to run out and it has not yet.
"Fuel will be sent to hospitals with supervision, we will do everything to make sure it is not used for Hamas military purposes."
Later on Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a statement stressing that the Prime Minister's Office had not approved any transfer of fuel into Gaza. Advertisement
Gallant: Israel has 'unique' solutions for Gaza tunnels
Israel has "unique" solutions to the problem of Hamas's underground tunnel system inside Gaza, Defense Minister Yoav Minister said on Thursday evening.
Gallant added that the IDF has the capbilities to "reach all the tunnels and destroy them underground."
The defense minister further noted that Israeli forces are in the midst of "tough battles" inside the Strip, but that Israel has a "distinct advantage."
PqqMo on November 2nd, 2023 at 20:11 UTC »
I think most Hamas fighters just went south with the civilians
Dietmeister on November 2nd, 2023 at 17:42 UTC »
I really wonder if they aren't just going to siege the whole city down for like half a year or something.
upvoter222 on November 2nd, 2023 at 17:41 UTC »
Clarification: The Gaza Strip is the entire western region under Palestinian control. It is made up of multiple cities. Gaza City is the largest city in the Gaza Strip. Anything located in Gaza City is in the Gaza Strip but a location in the Gaza Strip isn't necessarily in Gaza City.
It doesn't help that the headline and article don't capitalize "city" in "Gaza City," which makes the text less clear.