Residents in the Gaza Strip confirmed today, Tuesday, that Israeli tanks have resumed invading areas in the northern part of the territory from which they had withdrawn last week, marking a return to some of the most intense clashes since the beginning of the year when Israel announced a reduction in its operations there.
Massive explosions were observed in northern Gaza along the border with Israel, a phenomenon that had been rare over the past two weeks following Israel's announcement of a troop reduction in the northern sector as part of a transition to smaller-scale targeted operations.
Heavy gunfire was heard across the border throughout the night, with remnants of rockets fired by militants and intercepted by Israeli Iron Dome defenses, indicating that they still possess the capability to launch them more than 100 days into the conflict.
Some of the hundreds of thousands who fled from the north at the start of the war began returning to bombed areas from which the Israelis had withdrawn last week. However, residents who spoke to Reuters today stated that the sudden resurgence of fighting in the north would now halt their plans to return home.
In southern Gaza, Israeli forces advanced into the central city of Khan Younis, and into towns in the north and east of Deir al-Balah. Statements from the Israeli defense minister yesterday, Monday, regarding the imminent conclusion of the ground assault in the south raised questions about whether the Israelis would continue to progress toward the remaining areas in the south.
