This report provides an update on day 699 of Israel's war on Gaza, focusing on the dire humanitarian situation, internal Israeli military challenges, and the continued effectiveness of Palestinian resistance operations. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs maps reveal that 86.5% of Gaza is designated a "shoot-to-kill" zone, rendering Israeli evacuation orders to already overcrowded southern areas dangerous and impractical. Internal Israeli military documents, including a leaked IDF booklet, admit the "failure" and "enormous wear and tear" of previous operations like "Gideon's Chariots Part 1," citing ill-suited tactics against Hamas's guerrilla warfare and low troop morale. Despite massive destruction across northern Gaza, the Palestinian resistance, including Qassam and Saraya al-Quds, demonstrates sophisticated joint ambushes, IED attacks, and anti-tank engagements, notably the Beit Hanoun ambush which inflicted over 20 Israeli casualties. The report also highlights the Israeli military's use and subsequent demolition of civilian infrastructure, such as an elementary girls' school, underlining the genocidal intent.
Resistance Report: Day 699 of War in Gaza
0:42 Gaza's Perilous "Shoot-to-Kill" Zones: United Nations maps indicate that 86.5% of Gaza is a "shoot-to-kill" zone, where Israeli forces fire at anything moving. This makes proposed evacuations from Gaza City to southern areas, which are already overcrowded with displaced people like the Alawasi tent camp, extremely dangerous and unfeasible.
2:55 Israeli Military Challenges & Dissent: Israel's call-up of 60-80,000 reserves is met with expected draft dodging, leading to heightened border security. Key Israeli military and intelligence chiefs (Mossad, Shabak, Aman, IDF Chief of Staff) reportedly oppose the Gaza City invasion, advocating for a ceasefire, while Prime Minister Netanyahu is believed to prolong the war for political survival.
5:06 Leaked IDF Report Confirms Operational Failures: A leaked IDF booklet on "Gideon's Chariots Part 1" acknowledges the operation's failure to defeat Hamas or free captives, citing "every mistake possible" and ill-suited tactics against Hamas's guerrilla warfare. The report also admits "enormous wear and tear on manpower and equipment," with up to 40% of heavy bulldozers damaged or destroyed.
12:00 Catastrophic Destruction in Northern Gaza: Neighborhoods like Zeytoun, Shajaya, Tuffah, and Beit Hanoun have been subjected to near-total destruction, with 1,000 buildings in Zeytoun and Alsabra alone destroyed in an 18-day period. Satellite imagery starkly illustrates Zeytoun's transformation from a city to an "ashen, gray, totally destroyed" landscape between August 8th and 25th.
15:40 Joint Ambush Tactics: Saraya al-Quds and Qassam Brigades demonstrate advanced joint operations, including the use of multi-stage ambushes with pre-planted explosively formed penetrators (EFPs) like the Shawad and Taqib, and anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) such as the Cornet, effectively targeting Israeli Eitan armored personnel carriers (APCs) and tanks.
23:07 DFLP Anti-Vehicle Mines: The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) deploys stacked TC6 anti-vehicle mines strategically against Israeli bulldozers, highlighting diverse resistance tactics.
27:08 Major Beit Hanoun Ambush (July 7th): Qassam's Beit Hanoun Battalion conducted a significant ambush on the ultra-orthodox Netzah Yehuda Battalion near the Erez checkpoint. Using "television IEDs" (large Claymore-like mines) planted 12 hours earlier, they targeted Israeli foot patrols, resulting in over 20 Israeli casualties (5 killed, 14 seriously or moderately wounded), underscoring the resistance's continued capability despite Israeli claims of their defeat.
19:00 Israeli Military's Destruction of Civilian Infrastructure: Israeli forces used an elementary girls' school in southern Gaza City as a military base, deploying tanks and D9 bulldozers. Saraya al-Quds successfully targeted this position with 60mm mortars. Subsequently, the Israeli military demolished the school with explosives upon withdrawal.
33:00 Unwavering Resistance Resolve: A Qassam poster proclaims Gaza as "the last fortress," asserting, "you'll sooner reach the stars than see Gaza surrender," signaling the steadfast determination of the Palestinian resistance.