Palestinian resistance in Gaza punishes Israeli army as reservist withdrawal begins

News Desk - The Cradle 

Israeli military spokesman says the war will continue through this year amid the temporary withdrawal of several brigades

Hamas issued a statement on 2 January saying that its armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, killed 16 soldiers and completely or partially destroyed 71 military vehicles in a series of attacks on Israeli forces in Gaza in the past four days. The Israeli losses come as the army begins a temporary withdrawal of some brigades from Gaza.

The Palestinian resistance movement stated, “During those missions, the invading Zionist forces were targeted with missiles and anti-fortified devices,” while Qassam fighters “engaged with them from zero distance, targeting their rescue teams and two houses.” 

“Our Mujahideen shot down two reconnaissance planes and seized another drone, and they also destroyed multiple headquarters and command rooms," while Qassam fighters also “fired mortar shells and short-range missiles on all fronts of the fighting in the Gaza Strip. A barrage of M90 missiles rained down on the city of Tel Aviv in the center of the {Zionist] entity,” on New Year's Eve, the statement added.

The statement comes as Israeli media broadcast Go Pro footage of injured Israeli soldiers crying while under attack in a Gaza apartment building. One of the soldiers can be heard saying, “I'm gonna die... I can't stand this anymore!”

On 1 January, the Israeli army announced the death of a soldier killed during fighting in the northern Gaza Strip, bringing the official toll of slain troops since the start of the ground offensive against Hamas to 173. 

However, the army is known for hiding its losses, in particular among low ranking soldiers and some estimates of Israel's soldier deaths are much higher.

Citing losses to the Israeli economy rather than losses to its troops, the Israeli military said on Monday that it would begin withdrawing several thousand troops from the Gaza Strip at least temporarily.

The troops are mostly reservists, allowing them to return to their civilian jobs for the time being.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the Israeli military spokesman, emphasized that the move to demobilize some soldiers did not change Israel’s intention to continue fighting “to destroy Hamas.” Admiral Hagari said that some troops would be called back to service in 2024 with continued “warfare throughout this year” expected.

Israeli bombing has now killed over 22,000 people in Gaza since the beginning of the war on 7 October, the majority women and children, according to the local health authorities. 

With Israel restricting aid delivery and aid workers unable to move safely within the besieged enclave, half of Gaza’s roughly 2.2 million people are at risk of starvation, reported the UN.

This follows the policy announced early in the war by the Israeli defense minister on the third day of the war. 

“I have ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip: There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed,” Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on 9 October. “We are fighting human animals, and we are acting accordingly.”

This and similar statements from other Israeli ministers serve as the basis for claims that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. 

Last week, South Africa invoked the Genocide Convention against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague.