Israeli Army Invades Deir al-Balah for the First Time Since the Start of the Gaza War

The Israeli army launched a wide-scale ground operation in the city of Deir al-Balah in the middle of the Gaza Strip yesterday, Monday, in a significant shift in the course of the war that has been ongoing for about 22 months. Israel had previously refrained from carrying out any military operations inside the city due to suspicions of the presence of Israeli prisoners in the area.

The Israeli army radio quoted military sources, unnamed, stating that this is the first time Israeli ground forces have entered Deir al-Balah since the outbreak of the war.

Israeli Channel 14 confirmed that forces from the "Golani" brigade have begun the ground incursion into the city, indicating that the operation is proceeding quickly although the participating force is limited to only one brigade so far.

The channel also mentioned that the army plans intensive and focused military operations that will continue for several days to come.

Eyewitnesses reported that Israeli forces took control of buildings in the southwestern area of Deir al-Balah, with soldiers deploying snipers on the rooftops of homes, indicating the possibility of long-range positioning.

Local residents stated that this movement is the first of its kind in the city since the beginning of the war, and it is accompanied by a heavy displacement from the areas covered by the warning.

On Sunday, the Israeli army issued a warning to residents in the southwest of Deir al-Balah, urging them to evacuate immediately, specifying blocks 130, 132 to 134, 136 to 139, and 2351, in addition to the camps established in those areas.

The army spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, wrote in a post on the "X" platform that all those present in these areas should head south towards the Mawasi area, threatening to expand the scope of ground operations.

The warning led to a large wave of displacement in the early hours of Monday morning, amid anxiety among residents about the available destinations for evacuation in light of the ongoing fighting and the scarcity of safe areas.

The start of the military operation has raised concerns among the Israeli Forum for the Families of Captives, which expressed its worries about the repercussions of the forces entering an area believed to contain Israeli prisoners.