1/23/2024–|Last updated: 1/23/202411:54 PM (Mecca time)
On the 109th day of the Israeli war on Gaza, the consequences of the Al-Maghazi ambush dominated the scene as Israeli leaders expressed their “pain” after the killing of 21 officers and soldiers in a “complex operation” by the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
On Tuesday morning, the occupation army acknowledged the killing of 21 officers and soldiers in an ambush set up by the resistance east of the Maghazi camp in the central Gaza Strip, and described the operation as the most difficult since the beginning of the ground invasion of the Strip on October 27 last.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Health in Gaza said in a statement that the death toll rose to 25,490 and those injured to 63,354 as a result of the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Strip since last October 7.
Compound process
The Al-Qassam Brigades said that it carried out what it described as a combined operation – yesterday, Monday – east of the Maghazi camp, which resulted in the killing of 21 Israeli soldiers.
Al-Qassam – the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) – explained that it targeted a house east of the Maghazi camp in which an Israeli force was holed up, which led to the explosion of the ammunition it was in possession of.
It added that it detonated a minefield in another Israeli force that was in the same place, causing its members to be killed or wounded.
Al-Qassam also destroyed a Merkava tank that was securing the force holed up in the house east of the Maghazi camp with a Yassin 105 shell.
Occupation narrative
In turn, Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevy conducted a preliminary field investigation following the killing of officers and soldiers in Al-Maghazi, yesterday, Monday, in what was described as the most difficult day for Israel since the start of its war on Gaza.
The preliminary investigation showed that a group of Palestinian fighters fired RPG shells at two buildings located east of the Maghazi camp in the central Gaza Strip after an Israeli force booby-trapped them with explosive materials.
According to the investigation, the two targeted buildings – with Israeli officers and soldiers inside them – collapsed as a result of explosives planted by the force.
Palestinian fighters also fired a shell at an Israeli tank adjacent to the two buildings, killing two soldiers inside.
The investigation indicated that the fighters suddenly appeared from the fields and approached a distance of dozens of meters, and they were able to escape after firing the shells.
Israel’s leaders are hurting
For their part, Israeli officials expressed their pain following the announcement of the killing of 24 officers and soldiers in the Gaza Strip during the past 24 hours, 21 of whom were killed in the Qassam operation in the Maghazi camp.
In a joint statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and War Council member Benny Gantz expressed their sadness, saying that they “bow their heads to those who fell in Gaza,” and that they will not stop striving to achieve victory.
Galant also said that Israel suffered a strong blow yesterday with the killing of 24 soldiers, 3 of them in battles in the southern Gaza Strip, adding that they are following Hezbollah, which continues to provoke Israel in the north, as he put it.
Fierce battles
Battles intensified in Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip, today, with the Israeli army announcing the start of an attack to besiege the city’s camp, with the participation of 4 battalions from the Givati Brigade, commandos, paratroopers, and the 7th Battalion.
The Israeli army forces also continued their attempts to advance in the areas west of the city of Khan Yunis, as shelling continues in the vicinity of Al Amal Hospital, the Red Crescent headquarters west of the city, and Nasser Hospital in the center of Khan Yunis.
The battles were concentrated in areas west of the city, with clashes taking place in the Al-Mawasi area, the vicinity of Al-Aqsa University, and in the Al-Amal and Al-Maskar neighborhoods.
Israel proposes a deal
Israeli and American media reported that Israel presented a proposal to Hamas regarding concluding a new deal to release detainees in Gaza in exchange for a temporary halt to the war on the Strip, amid cautious Israeli optimism.
Israeli Channel 13 reported – on Monday evening – that Tel Aviv had finished formulating the principles of a deal consisting of 3 to 4 stages, which includes changing the army’s deployment in the Gaza Strip and withdrawing from some areas without ending the war.
The American website Axios reported – citing two Israeli officials – that the proposal presented by Tel Aviv to Hamas through the Qatari and Egyptian mediators includes a two-month cessation of the war during which all Israeli detainees in Gaza will be released. However, the resistance has repeatedly stipulated that the aggression be stopped completely before talking about an exchange deal. .
In a related context, the White House said that US President Joe Biden sent an envoy to the Middle East to hold talks regarding detainees and a new truce in Gaza.
Lebanese Front
Lebanese Hezbollah announced that it bombed, on Tuesday, for the second time in weeks, the most important Israeli air control base near the border with Lebanon, with 20 shells, while Israeli aircraft launched raids on Lebanese towns.
Hezbollah said – in a statement – that it bombed the “Meron” base in response to the recent assassinations in Lebanon and Syria and “repeated attacks” on civilians and homes in Lebanese villages.
For its part, the Israeli army announced what it described as minor damage to the Meron air control base in Galilee as a result of shells fired from Lebanon this morning.
He said in a statement, “The launching of several missiles that violated the borders from Lebanese territory was monitored, and some of them were successfully intercepted.” He added, “Slight damage was caused to infrastructure at an air force base.”