Towards the end of the second week of the IDF's ground maneuvers in the Gaza Strip, we joined the fighting forces in the heart of the Gaza Strip in Al Atatra, overlooking Beit Lahiya.
The entrance is through the Zikim area, from where terrorists infiltrated into Israeli territory on the terrible morning of 7 October, right next to the beach. Evidence of that terrible morning can be seen on the side of the road, when next to the large gaping opening in the fence lies an abandoned motorcycle apparently used by the terrorists, completely covered in dust.
The entrance is through the Zikim area, from where terrorists entered Israeli territory on the terrible morning of 7 October.
Some of the fighters sit in a kind of "zola" inside what appears to be the farm of one of the wealthiest people in the Gaza Strip, happy and eating battle rations.
We enter Gaza on Wednesday afternoon in an open, unarmored Humvee that seems to have been through a lot in his life. The open Humvee is a bit disturbing, but the forces note that we are entering a relatively safe place where the forces have been working for several days, so there is no impediment to entering the area.
Highway deep into the strip
"Inside they are fighting, there are fierce battles," notes Lt. Col. Eran, commander of the 646th Brigade, who is responsible for our security at the border crossing. "The fighters are doing a great job, keeping you safe."
The whole story is all in one picture. Soldiers deep inside the Gaza Strip, photo: Ami Shumen
Just before crossing the fence into the Gaza Strip, the fighters their weapons and themselves. The force is a Bahad 1 force responsible for supplies and logistics for the 162nd Division, which began entering the Gaza Strip a little less than two weeks ago and took over the coastal strip.
The mission of the Gefen Battalion of Bahad 1, a battalion composed of combat cadets who were supposed to stand on the parade ground of Bahad 1 next week to mark the completion of the combat officers' course, is to secure the logistical axis of the 162nd Division, advance after the forces and ensure supplies.
Israel Hayom reporter and photographer with forces deep inside Gaza, photo: Ami Shumen
The dirt road we are traveling on was paved by the IDF and includes several lanes – a real highway, in order to allow the forces to enter and exit quickly. Tanks, armored personnel carriers and other IDF vehicles pass us and make their way quickly in and out.
Israeli flags fly proudly along Gaza's beaches, and every few meters we encounter forces or firing positions established by the IDF over the past two weeks.
Our correspondent Lilach Shubalaam Col. Guy, Photo: Ami Shumen
After a few kilometers of driving in the sand, we reach a flat, completely sandy area, which once, before the concentrated work of the air force and ground forces, was the agricultural village of Al Atatra, located north of Beit Lahiya. The IDF demolished many of the greenhouses there to locate hiding terrorists and a complex underground system, but left some houses.
Aggressive entry
We meet Staff Sergeant (res.) Liran from Be'er Sheva, a physics and biology student at Ben-Gurion University, as he is working on his studies. "I don't want to lose material," he says. "If there's anything else that needs to be done, I do," he cuts short and goes back to the books.
Israel Hayom reporter and photographer with forces deep inside Gaza, photo: Ami Shumen
Lt. Col. Ariel, commander of the Gefen Battalion in Bahad 1, is the commander of the force left to secure the site, after the forces of the 162nd Division advanced into the Gaza Strip. He lives at Ramon Air Force Base, and on Saturday, October 7, he was also woken by sirens. "I went to Bahad 1 to get organized with the equipment and bounce the people," he shares.
Lt. Col. Ariel and other commanders began traveling to the Gaza envelope, passing between several different locations of events, including Magen, Nir Oz, Nirim and Beeri, where they eliminated terrorists and rescued the wounded. "The sights we saw there were reminiscent of sights we saw decades ago. Such serious things were done there, and the world needs to understand that there is no forgiveness for it."
Liran studying for exams in Gaza, photo: Ami Shumen
After October 7, HED 1 entered into combat procedures and training in preparation for the ground incursion. "The entrance was as it should be – aggressive, precise, good. The troops had a lot of security at the entrance. Everything worked well."
At the same time as we talk to Lt. Col. Ariel on the farm of what used to be al-'Atatra, we hear shells being fired from time to time. "It's ours," those present reassure us. Although the 162nd Spearhead Forces were already on the scene, forces from the Gefen Battalion continue to raid and mop up the areas that have already been cleansed. "We understand that an enemy could emerge from here again," explains Lt. Col. Ariel.
Reading "Israel Hayom" inside Gaza, photo: Ami Shumen
The forces in the field where we were relatively stationary, happy and eating battle rations. Some of them asked us to film them and send the videos to their parents. It is hard to exaggerate the excitement of the mothers of these fighters, who have not slept long nights knowing that their children are currently in the hornet's nest called the Gaza Strip.
On the Sea of Gaza
At a certain point, the commanders on the ground decided to smuggle us out of fear that mortar shells had been fired at the place where we were staying. Within a few seconds, we were already Humvees, on the short drive along the Gaza sea, back to Israeli territory. Sure enough, shortly after we left, we heard a large explosion, and black smoke billowing not far from where we were.
Happy and eating battle rations. The forces in the Gaza Strip, photo: Ami Shumen
"I really hope we don't stop until we win. It takes a lot of patience," notes the battalion commander. "You can't live alongside the threat of Hamas. We see houses here where upstairs there is a family with children, and downstairs there are missiles," he notes.
"Their cruelty surprised me. Even if we meet a family of terrorists here, we won't do to them what they did. They are not human beings. You can't fathom the magnitude of this cruelty on October 7th."
Israel Hayom reporter and photographer with forces deep inside Gaza, photo: Ami Shumen
"The fighting here is one of good against evil, light against darkness. I believe that in the end a small light turns on a big light. We must not stop until Hamas is gone, however long it takes."
"The fighting here is one of good against evil. Light against darkness. I believe that in the end, a small light turns on a big light," concluded Lt. Col. Ariel. "We must not stop until Hamas is gone. We have to keep going, however long it takes."
In the shadow of the war, his cadets will probably not stand next week on the parade ground at Bahad 1 for the graduation ceremony of the officers' course. But Bahad 1 is working on an alternative ceremony, perhaps in Bari, in a way that will mark victory and continuity.
Wrong? We'll fix it! If you find a mistake in the article, please share with us