Military expert Major General Fayez Dweiri has stated that Israeli claims of control over Northern Gaza starkly contradict the situation on the ground, asserting that the withdrawal of the Golani Brigade undermines such statements.
Dweiri emphasized that the firing of 35 rockets towards Tel Aviv and Ben Gurion Airport by resistance forces on Thursday underscores the reality that Israel does not maintain control over the territory.
He clarified that these rockets were launched from Jabalia in the northern part of the Strip, indicating that the command and intelligence of the resistance remain active in an area Israel claims to have dominated.
The expert added that the rocket preparation process takes place underground and, once ready, they are launched from tunnel openings, confirming that the territory is clear of forces and the skies free of aircraft.
Dweiri also pointed out that the Shuja'iyya neighborhood remains impervious to Israeli forces, as it harbors one of the two main striking forces of the Al-Qassam Brigades — the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) — alongside the battalion of the Tuffah neighborhood.
He stated that this resilient force has compelled Israel to withdraw the elite Golani Brigade from the battle, after it suffered considerable casualties, a strategy similarly employed in 2014.
Dweiri noted that a brigade's withdrawal from battle militarily only occurs if it loses about 40% of its fighters and equipment, indicating that this decision "confirms the truth of the resistance's reports on the losses inflicted on the occupation."
He asserted that this withdrawal would impact the army's morale, as other brigades will question the rationale behind it. Besides, while equipment losses can be repaired, the loss of personnel is not as easily remedied, Dweiri remarked.
Even if the decision was made to reorganize forces, as Israel claims, such reformation, according to the military expert, "takes a long time because a brigade is combat-ready only when its strength is at least around 90%, and the current strength of the Golani Brigade is below 60%."
Persistent Battle Lines
In summary, Dweiri stated that combat continues in the northeastern part of the Strip, particularly from Mansoura Street to Baghdad Street, as confirmed by the Al-Qassam Brigades.
Also on the southern front, he confirmed that there is no change in the lines of engagement enclosing Khan Younis (Bani Suhaila, Al-Zanna, Abasan), rather than inside it, as Israel aims to encircle and isolate the city.
And even with Israel's destruction of what it called "the leaders' compound" in Gaza City, Dweiri opines that "this means nothing, as there are many leadership buildings and even alternative and reserve leaderships."
The ongoing dynamics of the conflict continue to shape the reality in Gaza, highlighting the complexities of establishing control in such a contested region.
