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Battle of Beit Hanoun

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Battle of Beit Hanoun
Part of the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip and the insurgency in the North Gaza Strip during the Israel–Hamas war
October 2023 Gaza−Israel conflict.svg

  Gaza Strip under Palestinian control
  Gaza Strip under Israeli control
  Furthest Israeli advance in the Gaza Strip
  Evacuated areas inside Israel
Date27 October 2023– 31 May 2024
(7 months and 4 days)
Location
Beit Hanoun, Gaza Strip
Territorial
changes		 Hamas government and Palestinian militants retain control of Beit Hanoun[1][failed verification]
Belligerents
 Israel  Hamas
Palestinian Islamic Jihad
Fatah Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades
Commanders and leaders
Israel Moran Omer
Israel Salman Habaka †[2][3][4]		 Hamas Abu Hamza Fayyad
Hamas Abd Allah Bin Mohammed Zaher
Fahad Al-Shammari[5]
Units involved

 Israel Defense Forces

State of Palestine Palestinian Joint Operations Room

Casualties and losses
Israel 60+ soldiers killed or wounded[11]
Israel 1 Namer APC destroyed		 Hamas Unknown
Unknown

The battle of Beit Hanoun began on 27 October 2023 in the midst of the 2023 Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip.[12][13] On 18 December 2023, Israeli forces had prematurely signalled that they had full control over Beit Hanoun and had destroyed Hamas’ Beit Hanoun Battalion. [14][6] However, clashes continued in the town. Israeli forces withdrew from the town on the 24th of December. Subsequently, some Palestinian militants infiltrated back into the town and conducted attacks against Israeli forces to the east.[15][16]

Battle

On 27 October, Hamas stated that its military wing was confronting the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza, with "violent engagements" taking place.[17] Pro-Palestinian sources stated that the IDF had carried out "a very limited incursion" into the outskirts of Beit Hanoun overnight.[18] On the same day, Hamas said that they had "foiled an Israeli ground incursion into Beit Hanoun."[19]

On 31 October, Israeli forces claimed to have advanced into the outskirts of Beit Hanoun to conduct clearing operations, in an attempt to besiege Gaza City.[20]

On 1 November, Hamas said it had destroyed several Israeli tanks and armored vehicles, including at least four Israeli Merkava tanks using Yasin 105 anti-tank rocket-propelled grenades in Beit Hanoun.[21] The Al-Qassam Brigades also claimed to have bombed a gathering of IDF soldiers near Beit Hanoun using a quadcopter drone.[22] On the following day, pro-Palestinian sources reported that Israeli forces were advancing from the east and south as part of an effort to encircle and advance into Beit Hanoun.[23]

On 4 November, the IDF continued its advance in Beit Hanoun. Clashes occurred on al-Karameh street, the city's main north–south street. The al-Qassam Brigades published footage of its militants maneuvering through tunnel systems in Beit Hanoun and attacking Israeli forces with various weapons.[24]

On 11 November, the IDF announced that four Israeli soldiers were killed in a booby-trapped tunnel in Beit Hanoun, while another was killed in battles in the north.[25] The IDF claimed to have advanced beyond the city on or before 12 November, and it released a video showing the IDF Harel Brigade operating south of Beit Hanoun. Hamas fighters are continuing to attack the IDF in Beit Hanoun beyond the IDF's forward line of advance. The Al-Qassam Brigades said that it detonated an anti-personnel improvised explosive device (IED) targeting IDF forces sheltering in a house in Beit Hanoun.[13]

On 9 November, the destruction had become so extensive and severe that Beit Hanoun was described as “not only dead, but no longer existing”.[26]

On 15 November, Hamas announced that, it destroyed four Israeli vehicles with Yasin 105 rocket-propelled grenades in Beit Hanoun.[27]

On 18 December 2023, the IDF claimed to have taken full control over Beit Hanoun and destroyed Hamas’ Beit Hanoun Battalion.[14][6]

By 20 December, Israel shifted to holding operations within the area, while Hamas continued to launch attacks on Israeli forces with small arms, including drive-by attacks.[28]

On 24 December, Israeli forces withdrew from Beit Hanoun amidst heavy fighting with Palestinian militant groups. Returning civilians to the town's ruins reported that no vehicles were in sight. Israeli forces continue to shell the city.[29]

Former residents of Beit Hanoun returned to the remains of the town after Israeli forces had withdrawn from it. The destruction had encompassed the entire city, and residents said that “all structures were destroyed”, and described most of Beit Hanoun as being “razed to the ground”.[30]

On 26 December, Hamas attacked Israeli forces carrying out holding operations with an improvised explosive device.[31]

On 15 January 2024, the Al Quds Brigades fired a rocket salvo from Beit Hanoun toward southern Israel, as Palestinian militants began infiltrating areas which had been previously cleared by the IDF in Northern Gaza.[32]

On 9 March, IDF Kfir Brigade’s Netzah Yuhda Battalion (143rd Division) operated in Beit Hanoun targeting Palestinian fighters that had returned since IDF's previous withdrawal.[33]

On 4 April, IDF 7643rd Gefen Brigade (Gaza Division) and Netzah Yehuda Battalion (900th Kfir Brigade, 99th Reserve Division) continued re-clearing of Beit Hanoun and announced the death of a Hamas company commander.[34]

On 31 May, the IDF withdrew from Beit Hanoun and all areas in northern Gaza following the end of the Battle of Jabalia.[35]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Iran Update, january 16". ISW.
  2. ^ Beaumont, Peter (2 November 2023). "Israeli tank commander hailed as hero after Hamas attack is killed in Gaza". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 3 November 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  3. ^ "Druze Lt.-Col. Salman Habaka killed in Gaza battle". 2 November 2023.
  4. ^ https://www.timesofisrael.com/lt-col-salman-habaka-33-responded-to-hamas-assault-fell-in-gaza/amp/&ved=2ahUKEwi3mLTN3LeFAxUXiP0HHUPUCncQyM8BKAB6BAgFEAI&usg=AOvVaw1EQWQInsA9mtSZwlfnrGmC
  5. ^ "فلسطين: اشتباكات مسلحة بين المقاومة وجيش الاحتلال في بيت حانون شمال قطاع غزة". Alahednews. Archived from the original on 21 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d Fabian, Emanuel (18 December 2023). "IDF signals full control over Beit Hanoun in north Gaza". Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  7. ^ "252nd Division conquers Beit Hanoun in Gaza". Israel National News. 18 December 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  8. ^ Fabian, Emanuel (8 November 2023). "IDF says its entire 252nd Reserve Division is operating inside Gaza". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  9. ^ "Iran Update, November 4, 2023". Institute for the Study of War. 4 November 2023. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  10. ^ "Institute for the Study of War".
  11. ^ "Fierce clashes in Gaza leave 60 Israelis killed or wounded". 3 December 2023.
  12. ^ "Israel-Hamas war in maps: Israeli forces advance in to Beit Hanoun". euronews. 1 November 2023. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  13. ^ a b Carter, Brian; Moore, Johanna; Soltani, Amin; Carl, Nicholas (12 November 2023). "Iran Update, November 12, 2023". Critical Threats. Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  14. ^ a b Jhaveri, Ashka; Soltani, Amin; Parry, Andie; Braverman, Alexandra; Ganzeveld, Annika; Tyson, Kathryn; Mills, Peter (18 December 2023). "Iran Update, December 18, 2023". Critical Threats. Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  15. ^ "قنص ضابط في بيت حانون".
  16. ^ "يلقي قذيفة في بيت حانون".
  17. ^ "Israel and Hamas at war: what we know on day 22". The Guardian. 27 October 2023. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 1 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  18. ^ Gal Perl, “The IDF’s unique advantage, the commanders are the secret to its strength”: Lessons learned from 1982 to 2023, The Dado Center for Interdisciplinary Military Studies, April 30, 2024.
  19. ^ Najjar, Joseph Stepansky,Farah. "Israel-Hamas war updates: Israeli ground forces expanding Gaza operations". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ "Israel-Hamas war in maps: Israeli forces advance in to Beit Hanoun". euronews. 1 November 2023. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  21. ^ Psaropoulos, John. "'Extremely challenging': Israel's Gaza ground assault faces stumbles". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  22. ^ "Iran Update, November 1, 2023". Critical Threats. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  23. ^ "Iran Update, November 2, 2023". Critical Threats. Archived from the original on 6 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  24. ^ "IRAN UPDATE, NOVEMBER 5, 2023". Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on 14 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  25. ^ "Five Israeli soldiers killed in battles in Gaza: Military". www.aa.com.tr. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  26. ^ "Inside Gaza with the Israeli army as it hunts for Hamas tunnels". Le Monde. 8 November 2023. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  27. ^ "4 Israeli vehicles 'infiltrating' northern Gaza destroyed, says Hamas". Zaman Al Wsl. 15 November 2023.
  28. ^ "Institute for the study of war - Iran update December 20". ISW. Archived from the original on 21 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  29. ^ "صحفيون في شمال قطاع غزة: جيش الاحتلال انسحب من بيت حانون". royanews.
  30. ^ "دمار شامل وصادم يضرب مدينة بيت حانون ومرافقها الرئيسية =Al Jazeera".
  31. ^ "IRAN UPDATE, DECEMBER 26, 2023". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  32. ^ "IRAN UPDATE, JANUARY 16, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  33. ^ "IRAN UPDATE, MARCH 8, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  34. ^ "IRAN UPDATE, April 4, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  35. ^ admin (31 May 2024). "Israeli Forces Withdraw from Northern Gaza - Extensive Damage and Casualties". Palestine Chronicle. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
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