31 ottob 1956 anni - Gaza Strip operations

Descrizione:

Strategic Importance of Rafah
Rafah was crucial for Israel as its capture would sever the Gaza Strip from the Sinai Peninsula, providing a strategic route to al-Arish and al-Qantarah. The city was defended by a mixture of Egyptian and Palestinian forces, including the 5th Infantry Brigade commanded by Brigadier General Jaafar al-Abd and the 87th Palestinian Infantry Brigade.

Initial Assault
The IDF planned to seize Crossroads 12, a central junction in Rafah, focusing on breaking through rather than neutralizing every Egyptian strongpoint. The assault began with Israeli engineers clearing paths through the southern minefields at night. French warships provided fire support, although their effectiveness was questioned by Israeli commanders.

Battle for Crossroads 12 and Surrounding Hills
Using cleared paths, IDF tanks advanced under artillery fire and took Crossroads 12 with minimal casualties. Simultaneously, Israeli troops fought a series of night battles to capture strategically important hills (Hills 25, 25A, 27, and 29), suffering losses but achieving their objectives. On November 1, Israeli AMX-13 tanks encircled and captured additional hills (Hills 34 and 36), leading General al-Abd to order a retreat into Rafah.

Capture of Rafah
With Rafah surrounded and its access routes controlled by Israeli forces, Dayan ordered the 27th Armored Brigade to advance towards al-Arish. General al-Abd and his forces evacuated Rafah, allowing the IDF to take the city with minimal resistance. However, reports emerged that Israeli troops killed 111 people, including refugees, in Rafah's Palestinian refugee camp, though the circumstances remain disputed.

Advance to al-Arish and Gaza City
The IDF faced little resistance as they moved towards al-Arish, eventually capturing it on November 2. Despite the fall of the city, sporadic resistance from Egyptian stragglers persisted. Concurrently, the IDF launched an assault on Gaza City's defenses on November 1, breaking through and capturing the al-Muntar fortress, leading to the surrender of 3,500 Egyptian troops by November 2.

Battle for Khan Yunis
On November 3, the IDF attacked Khan Yunis, encountering fierce resistance from Egyptian and Palestinian forces. After intense street fighting, the city fell to the IDF. Claims of a massacre surfaced, with reports of executions of unarmed Palestinians following the city's capture. The UN reported the deaths of 275 people in the Khan Yunis killings.

Civilian Casualties and Humanitarian Impact
Street fighting in Gaza City and Khan Yunis resulted in significant civilian casualties. The situation was exacerbated by ransacking of UN warehouses and a general reluctance from Israel to provide aid, believing the responsibility lay with the UN. Estimates suggest 447 to 550 Palestinian civilians were killed during the early weeks of Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip, though the manner of their deaths remains contested.

By November 3, Israeli forces had control over almost the entire Gaza Strip, with remaining Egyptian strongpoints quickly falling. The IDF's rapid advances significantly impacted the Egyptian military's ability to regroup and defend the Sinai Peninsula.

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