Amir Bohbot, Walla's military correspondent! With the fighting forces in the Hamas stronghold of Shejaiya/Walla Campaign!
The Merkava tank slows down, stopping near what was once a three-story building. In relation to its current state, the word "structure" is a kind of compliment: it seems to have been sucked down, almost smeared on the soil of the Shejaiya neighborhood. Between him and the tanks stands the deputy commander of the 188th Brigade, Lt. Col. Oded, surrounded by fighters holding weapons. They are very alert: there is no telling where a terrorist squad or an armed drone will suddenly emerge. In the background, some of the brigade fighters and commanders can be seen hugging and sticking punches in the shoulders; They haven't seen each other for more than 60 days, since October 7.
"There is an enemy here," says Lt. Col. Oded, raising his voice slightly, "there are anti-tank missiles here. There are mortars here. There are suicide bombers here. See that line here? This is the neighborhood from which the terrorists raided our communities, kibbutzim and outposts (on October 7)." The officers listen to him with a sealed face. They are apparently trying to reconstruct, in their imagination, the route along which the terrorists moved on vans with abductees from Israel, deep into Palestinian territory.
What once looked like a building is now crumbling on Gaza soil. Tanks and destruction in Shejaiya/Amir Bohbut
"We learned lessons from our last time here in Operation Protective Edge." The forces in Shejaiya/Amir Bohbut
It is necessary to listen carefully to his words, so that they are not drowned out by the local soundtrack: the echoes of incessant explosions, the noise of tank machine guns, artillery batteries that operate constantly. Above the built-up area, many smoke mushrooms rise. "They did not refrain from building shafts and tunnels anywhere," continues Lt. Col. Oded, "We have already found shafts in the area, and in our estimation, there are many more here."
The brigade's forces, he describes, eliminated more than 72 terrorists in 60. "Any terrorist can go up anywhere he wants, but we will hunt him down. We have additional means from above, from below, from the sides. There is no 100% security, but when they tried us, they got hit. They were eliminated before they could reach us."
Welcome to the Shejaiya neighborhood in Gaza City, known as one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the Middle East. Don't rely on reputation alone - it is enough to listen to the systems of the tank, commanded by Major Tom, rapidly crossing the axis from the Nahal Oz outpost towards the neighborhood: here is a warning of an area full of mines, there is a warning of an enemy that does not stop moving from place to place. And along the way, the sights complete another piece of the October 7 puzzle. It is easy to see the huge opening in the smart fence at around 06:29 a.m. on that black Saturday, when the terrorists detonated the IEDs attached to it; But ten meters away, it is impossible to ignore two vans belonging to Hamas Nukhba terrorists, near the route paved by the Corps of Engineers' bulldozers. One of them was crushed as if it were made of paper; The second, after a targeted attack by a tank, sooty and perforated by machine gun bullets.
The combat team of the 188th Brigade, which has been operating in Shejaiya since Monday this week, includes the 605th Engineer Battalion, the 890th Paratroopers Battalion, the 906th Battalion from the School for Squad and Infantry Professions Commanders and the 74th Armored Battalion. We pass the Brigade's Merkava Mark 4 tank platoon, which moves from west to east. Major Tom asks the driver to lower his speed so that the entire convoy will wait for the brutal armored personnel carrier with fighters from Unit 669. They are professional, skilled and ready for any rescue of the wounded, no matter how complex. On the way to a predetermined point, you get evidence of the intensity of the maneuver: thick smoke rises from buildings that once housed a building materials factory, the houses are dotted with bullet holes, and the bulldozer that worked on the ground to expose the IEDs ran over everything that came its way in the initial maneuver inside.
Amir Bohbot, Walla's military correspondent! With the fighting forces in the Hamas stronghold of Shejaiya/Walla Campaign!
"Remember very well what I'm telling you," a veteran security guard who knows the Gaza neighborhood like the back of his hand told me, "in Shejaiya hides a very strong battalion, one of the strongest in Hamas' military wing. Crime families live in the neighborhood, such as the Dogmush family. They understood the value of money for terrorism. In the past, Hamas fought them to gain control, but in the end invested in them. When war breaks out, they fight as a family, according to clans, and this has value in resistance and extremism. We saw what happened in Operation Protective Edge, in the summer of 2014, when the Golani Brigade maneuvered into Shejaiya. It was as if she had hit the wall with her head, and paid a very heavy price for it. Shejaiya is known historically as a place where there is a lot of evil and cruelty. There they kidnapped Oron Shaul. They paid for it with enormous destruction, but received money accordingly from Hamas to rehabilitate."
"There's hardly a house without weapons, they hide ammunition in lunch boxes." The forces inside one of the houses / Amir Bohbut
The sooty vans next to the breached fence illustrate the whole story. Gaza Border / Amir Bohbut
"Don't touch anything!"
"According to our understanding, there are no civilians here," explains Lt. Col. Oded as we stand in the heart of the desolate neighborhood, but quickly emphasizes that we shouldn't be complacent: "There is no house here without weapons. There is no house here that does not have a shaft. There is no school that does not have a terrorist infrastructure. We see them coming out of there, so as far as we're concerned, everything here is an enemy. It sharpens us professionally, and we come here strongly. We learned lessons from Operation Protective Edge. If we enter an area where there is resistance, we go backwards, give fire back and then enter again, as we should."
In the meantime, during the conversation, the artillery batteries continue to rain fire deep into the Gaza Strip. Fire grips several buildings, evidence of the weapons that were inside and ignited after the impact. Every movement in the sky or a slight noise translates into suspicious glances and rifle barrels, lest it be a Hamas attacking drone.
"They want to finish the job, as far as we're concerned, we can stay here for a month." Destruction in Shejaiya/Amir Bohbut
"Respite? In the 188th Brigade there is no respite," says Lt. Col. Oded, "during this time the fighters prepared the tools and personal equipment. We are arming, organizing and preparing for the next stage. It is important to understand that from here the accursed terrorists set out to raid our kibbutzim, settlements and outposts. From here, terrorists set out for Nahal Oz. We find terrorists here, shafts, infrastructure, and ammunition, and we are fighting a stubborn battle. We will destroy them to the fullest. That's our mission."
One moment, when the brigade sergeant's voice seems to break, and he may even shed a tear through his goggles, comes when he is asked about the brigade's fallen soldiers from the beginning of the war – headed by the commander of Battalion 53, Lt. Col. Salman Habeka. But he comes to his senses quickly, and moves on to talk about the difficulties of fighting in a place like Shejaiya. "The big challenge is the fact that they hide and come by surprise. They booby-trap buildings, even use a cemetery as a fighting zone. They have underground infrastructure in mosques and schools. We employ all kinds of techniques, reinvent ourselves every day, act wisely and patiently. How much longer will we be in the field? As long as we have to be here. I have enough time and patience, and we're doing it powerfully. As far as I'm concerned, we can stay here for another month. I want to finish here properly, and only then move on."
Amir Bohbot, Walla's military correspondent! With the fighting forces in the Hamas stronghold of Shejaiya/Walla Campaign!
The tension is clearly felt as we walk towards the attacked buildings. The thread of thought breaks off: Suddenly, from the windows of the houses, cries of peace are heard - from the squad commanders from the 906th Battalion, who are securing the route in preparation for the convoy's arrival. Only on October 5 did they complete the mech course, and two days later they were assigned to the Gaza Division to help fight against the terrorists who infiltrated Israel. As you walk through the alleys, something begins to weigh on the air: an intense stench. "These are the terrorists," one of the soldiers explains to me, "they are buried in the rubble."
Major Tom points to one of the buildings, taller than the outline of the neighborhood. "Upstairs, the commander of the 906th Battalion awaits us. When entering, do not touch any object on the left side! These are items that need to be checked." Going up to the top floor, it turns out that behind each staircase there is a security force, with weapons drawn inward and outward, against any development.
The fighters had just finished an attack on foot against terrorist targets in the area. They gathered at the home of a Palestinian family that had fled, but left behind quite a few weapons – in the children's rooms and on the ground floor.
"We are busy destroying all the terrorist infrastructure here, as much as possible," explains the commander of Battalion 906, Lt. Col. Tal, "We have a supreme goal: to dismantle Hamas, to eliminate as many terrorists as possible." His warriors, not far from us, look like children in a candy store: they slice all the snacks they kept in vests on a blanket, and light an amgazit to make coffee and tea. In a side room, one of the fighters reads out the next missions at hand.
"We are trying to dismantle the line of houses that threatens Nahal Oz and the village of Gaza," says the battalion commander as one of the soldiers hands him a cup of coffee, "When we leave here, no terrorist will have a direct connection to the communities and civilians in them. We have intelligence, and with it we plan the next stage. Strike at our disposal: fighter planes, helicopters, drones, artillery and tanks."
A surprising greeting from above. IDF soldiers peeking out of window of house in Shejaiya/Amir Bohbut
And what about hand-to-hand combat? "Not much. Occasionally. We try to kill the enemy beforehand, and we succeed. My goal is for the soldiers to eliminate as many terrorists as possible, without meeting them face to face. I want to bring the strength of the entire IDF to the front, not to stand up to the Kalashnikovs with M-16 rifles.
Even when they locate tunnel shafts, Lt. Col. Tal surprises, they are not always in a hurry to destroy them. "We want to study them, study them. We were able to locate maps in the field. Most of Hamas' infrastructure is based on tunnels in schools, on terror attacks in mosques and hospitals. Ammunition is sometimes hidden in lunch boxes, weapons are hidden under children's beds. You understand that you are facing a vile enemy who will do anything to hurt you, even if it means sacrificing his people at all costs. Half an hour ago we were in the carpentry shop. It was innocent-looking, but it had vests and rifles with bullets in the barrel. Ask the soldiers – there's hardly a house where you can't find weapons. This is our enemy."
"The enemy avoids hand-to-hand combat, it tries to sting us." The forces in Shejaiya/Amir Bohbut
It is impossible without a word about the abductees and the assistance of the maneuvering forces in their return. The officers don't address the issue – they're forbidden – but one of them, quietly, can't help himself and wants to talk. "Ask every soldier and commander here," he says, his hand clenching into a raised fist, "everyone's dream of locating civilians and soldiers who have been kidnapped. We will do everything to make that happen. Does anyone have any doubts?"
Like him, Lt. Col. Tal, when asked about home and family, finds it difficult to control his emotions and the timbre of his voice changes. He is married, a father of two. "My children are at an age where they already understand what Dad does in the army, and why I'm not with them on Friday. We estimate that the enemy is here. Watching. Trying to sting us. He is present on the ground, but unwilling to confront face to face, preferring from afar. I don't underestimate the enemy, but I think it's weak."
Amir Bohbot, Walla's military correspondent! With the fighting forces in the Hamas stronghold of Shejaiya/Walla Campaign!
"Hamas is trying to establish an ethos here, we won't let it." Our forces are on standby in Shejaiya/Amir Bohbut
Even about 10 years ago, during Operation Protective Edge, he fought here. He then served as a crew commander in the Golani unit. "Shejaiya is an ethos that Hamas is trying to establish. I think we shouldn't take part in that. The enemy is the same enemy. We will kill whoever needs it, wherever necessary. Am I surprised by something? Just one thing. That the enemy doesn't care about sacrificing its infrastructure. He sanctifies death. On October 7, we fought, taking five terrorists from the Sufa area prisoner. But when they realized they were alone, they threw away their weapons and threw up their hands. We came here," he says, pointing to a nearby menorah that the soldiers will soon light, "to banish the darkness."
- More on the subject:
- Gaza War
- Iron Sword War
- Shejaiya