Operation Flood of Al-Aqsa

This article covers a current event. The information presented may become rapidly obsolete as new developments take place.

Operation Flood of Al-Aqsa (Arabic: Tufan Al-Aqsa, طوفان الأقصى) is a major, unprecedented incursion into occupied territory conducted by the Palestinian resistance groups in Gaza on 7 October, 2023.

Timeline of events

Resistance fighter crossing over the border fence on a paraglider, 7 October 2023.

On Saturday morning, 7 October 2023, the joint Palestinian resistance groups in Gaza (Hamas, PFLP, Islamic Jihad) started firing rockets at settlements outside of Gaza. The Iron Dome, Israel's anti-missile defense system, failed to intercept more rockets than usual. Rocket fire continued to support the operation the entire day, with the resistance reporting that they fired more than 5000 rockets by noon alone.

At the same time, resistance units penetrated through the border fence surrounding the Gaza strip. Methods to get through the fence included the use of paragliders. In a video, a hole can be seen cut in the fence with motorcycle units being conveyed through.

Resistance fighters driving motorcycles through the border fence, 7 October 2023

Afterwards, the resistance units moved into several settlements surrounding the Gaza strip, including Asqalan (Ashkelon), Erez and Sderot. Up to 15 settlements have reportedly been taken over.

The units quickly moved to neutralize the IDF presence in these towns, including rapid incursions into barracks, where most occupation soldiers were taken out before they even realized what was happening.

Videos on social media show Palestinian fighters walking freely through the streets of liberated towns, indicating they were successfully taken over and all occupation driven out in some way.

In response, the occupier has called on the reservists and declared a state of war, but did not name the recipient of that declaration. The occupier also ordered air strikes over Gaza in retaliation, which is considered a war crime as it is collective punishment. Under international law, Israel is considered an occupier and may not attack into Gaza but only defend against operations.

Clashes continued between the resistance and the occupation army for the rest of the day and into the night, but the bulk of the operation (as extrapolated from videos released by the resistance) happened in the early morning.

On the morning of 8 October 2023, it was reported that Hezbollah in Lebanon had attacked military positions and settlements in the north of occupied Palestine, notably striking at a radar station in support of the Palestinian resistance. Clashes followed on both sides of the border during the day. In response, the occupier diverted troops to the border with Lebanon in preparation for an incursion from Hezbollah.

On the night of the same day, Israel requested US help as they were completely overwhelmed by the operation. In response, the United States diverted one of their plane carriers towards towards Palestine.

By 9 October, it was reported by various sources that the resistance was able to move so far east that they were only 10 kilometers away from the West Bank. However, these reports are not yet entirely confirmed and it is important to note that in guerrilla operations such as this one,

Aftermath

This event is still ongoing.

Israeli public broadcaster Kan News said that the operation came as a complete surprise to the IDF.

Other media reported that over 35 prisoners of war had been captured by the resistance. Videos shared on social media show them being taken back to Gaza. That number was later brought up to over 50, with Hamas saying they are detaining even more prisoners than is reported.

At the same time, settlers were filmed scrambling to leave. According to Mango Press, An estimated 1 million settlers are preparing to leave the country, with many still waiting at airports into the night of 7 October.

Gaza resistance groups also indicated they had seized military equipment, including vehicles, from the barracks.

With IDF presence removed from the fence keeping Gaza locked in, Palestinians started destroying sections of it with bulldozers.

The provisional death toll from the occupier's side, as reported by its own media, currently amounts to over 1000.

Prisoners include officers of the IDF, including Brigadier-General Nimrod Aloni, who was the architect of the bombing campaigns against Gaza.

The provisional death toll for Palestine currently amounts to 370 martyrs from Gaza and 8 from the West Bank.