In statements to Al Jazeera on Tuesday, Iyad Al-Bozm, spokesman for the Ministry of Interior in the Gaza Strip, said that the Israeli occupation forces are seeking to separate the north of the Strip from its south.

As the ground incursion attempts accelerated, Al-Bazm explained that Israeli occupation vehicles are present on Salah al-Din Street and are trying to reach Al-Rashid Street.

Salah al-Din Street is located on the eastern outskirts of the Gaza Strip and is a main road extending from the north of the Strip to its south. As for Al-Rashid Street, it is the main road west of the Strip and is located on the Mediterranean coast.

In another context, the Gaza Interior Ministry spokesman explained that the occupation forces entered the Strip from the northwestern side and that their vehicles are located in the Karama area.

Al-Bazm stated that the occupation forces "annihilated entire residential areas in the northwestern Gaza Strip" before they were able to advance through that axis.

Earlier today, the Israeli occupation army spokesman said that fierce fighting was taking place in Gaza and that the situation required steadfastness and patience, as he put it.

For its part, the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), said that its fighters are waging violent battles in the axes south of Gaza City and the Tawam and Karama area northwest of Gaza. The brigades announced the destruction of a number of Israeli vehicles penetrating the axes north and south of Gaza City.

The occupation army seeks to penetrate the Gaza Strip through agricultural and open areas described as soft perimeters of the Strip, after carrying out unprecedented bombing operations from land, sea and air.

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem told Al Jazeera that the occupation has begun to move on the ground in a number of axes, and that in practice it has launched a ground attack that it does not want to announce for its own considerations. He added that the occupation is advancing through weak and bombed axes and in agricultural areas, and “there is no achievement.” His military."

Source: Al Jazeera