Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the country’s military leadership have remained silent about Israel’s push into the Gaza Strip. However, satellite imagery and social media posts have provided some insights into Israeli forces’ movements and the overall strategy of the campaign to destroy Hamas.

Based on available satellite images and conversations with military experts, it can be observed that Israeli forces have encircled Gaza City, most likely in preparation for prolonged operations. They appear to be positioned at the edge of the city along three axes: two from the north, pushing towards the city, and one from the southeast that has traversed the entire Gaza Strip.

The axis from the southeast seems to have covered the most ground in the first week. Eyewitness videos posted on social media showed what appeared to be an Israeli tank engaging a civilian vehicle on one of the main north-south roads between Gaza City and the southern parts of the strip. High-resolution satellite imagery captured by Planet on October 31 revealed approximately two-dozen Israeli armored vehicles stationed near the road, presumably to control access.

While there is limited information available, these observations indicate that Israeli forces are focusing their efforts on Gaza City. The encirclement suggests that a prolonged operation is underway, with the goal of destroying Hamas. The strategy appears to involve pushing into the city from multiple directions to gain control and isolate key areas.

It is important to note that the situation is fluid, and further developments can only be gleaned through ongoing analysis of satellite imagery and social media posts. The Israeli government and military continue to keep details about their operations in Gaza confidential.