Israeli tanks reach outskirts of Gaza City, retreat after heavy resistance

Gaza City: Israeli tanks reportedly reached the outskirts of Gaza City, cutting off a crucial road and sparking heavy clashes. The tanks advanced towards Salah al-Din Street, located approximately 3km from the Gaza fence. Witnesses on the ground claimed that the Israeli forces not only seized control of the road but also engaged in gunfire with any vehicles attempting to traverse it, according to Al Jazeera.

Tensions escalated further when the head of the Hamas government office in Gaza, Salama Maarouf, stated that Israeli tanks had withdrawn from the outskirts of Gaza City after a brief incursion.

Maarouf clarified that the Israeli military targeted civilian cars on Salah al-Din Street, bulldozing the area before being forced to retreat by resistance forces. He emphasized that there was no ongoing presence of Israeli military vehicles on Salah al-Din Road, allowing normal citizen movement to resume.

Amid the turmoil, Israel had previously warned residents in northern Gaza, including those in Gaza City, to relocate southwards to avoid military strikes. Despite the evacuation efforts, tens of thousands were believed to still be in the area. The conflict intensified on the heels of Hamas attacks on October 7, prompting an Israeli military response that officials claim resulted in the deaths of 1,400 people, predominantly civilians.

In the latest developments, Israeli forces escalated their ground offensive, claiming to have killed "dozens" of Hamas fighters in overnight clashes. The military reported that Hamas fighters had barricaded themselves in buildings and tunnels, attempting to launch attacks on the troops.

Israeli airstrikes also targeted strategic locations, including a building housing alleged Hamas operatives and an anti-tank missile launching post near al-Azhar University in the heart of Gaza City. The Israeli military asserted that their strikes hit weapons depots, anti-tank missile launching positions, as well as hideouts and staging areas used by the Hamas organization.

As the conflict continues to unfold, the toll on civilians in Gaza remains a grave concern, with over 8,000 reported casualties, more than half of them children, according to the Gaza health ministry. The situation on the ground remains fluid, with the international community closely monitoring the evolving crisis.