October 27 – December 2023 · Northern Gaza Theater
October 27 – December 2023
After three weeks of heavy air bombardment, the IDF launched its ground invasion on October 27 with two armored divisions entering northern Gaza. The advance was contested through densely built urban terrain and Hamas's vast tunnel network — 'the Metro' — which ran beneath hospitals, mosques, and residential buildings. The IDF fought for Gaza City block by block, uncovering tunnel shafts, weapons caches, and command infrastructure. By December, Israeli forces had largely cleared northern Gaza and Gaza City, though at significant civilian cost.
Commanders