A BBC correspondent participated in an IDF-led visit to Israeli-occupied areas of the Gaza Strip, reporting on extensive destruction in neighborhoods such as Shejaiya. The visit was controlled, restricting access to Palestinians or other parts of Gaza, and reporting materials were subject to military review prior to publication. An Israeli military spokesman attributed the destruction to combat operations against militants, citing the presence of tunnel shafts and booby-traps within structures. The report details ongoing clashes near the "yellow line," a temporary boundary, despite a ceasefire, with both Israeli forces and Hamas alleging violations. The article also provides casualty figures from the October 7, 2023 attacks and the subsequent conflict, alongside Israeli perspectives on Hamas's adherence to a US-led peace plan.
Reporting Conditions
Journalists, including the BBC, were taken on an IDF-led visit into areas of the Gaza Strip occupied by Israeli forces. Israel does not permit independent reporting by news organizations within Gaza. The visit was controlled, offering no access to Palestinian residents or other areas of Gaza. Israeli military censorship laws mandated that military personnel review reported material before publication. The BBC stated that it maintained editorial control of its report.
Observations of Destruction
From an embankment overlooking Gaza City, the area was observed as a landscape of rubble extending for 180 degrees, from Beit Hanoun to Gaza City. Identified as Shejaiya, an eastern neighborhood of Gaza City, much of the area appeared flattened, with few landmarks remaining. This area was among the first entered by Israeli ground troops in the early weeks of the conflict and has been revisited multiple times due to reported Hamas regrouping.
Israeli Military Statements
Israeli military spokesman Nadav Shoshani stated that the level of destruction was "not a goal," asserting that the objective was to "combat terrorists." He claimed that "almost every house had a tunnel shaft or was booby-trapped or had an RPG [rocket-propelled grenade] or sniper station." Lt Col Shoshani referenced the October 7, 2023 attacks, stating, "If you're driving fast, within a minute you can be inside of a living room of an Israeli grandmother or child. That's what happened on October 7." He also indicated that the bodies of several hostages, including Itay Chen, were found in this area, with searches continuing for seven more missing hostages.
The "Yellow Line" and Ceasefire
The Israeli military base visited is located near the "yellow line," a temporary boundary outlined in the US President Donald Trump's peace plan, which separates Israeli-controlled areas from those controlled by Hamas. Israeli forces are gradually marking this line with ground blocks as a warning. Despite a ceasefire being "almost a month old," Israeli forces report fighting Hamas gunmen along the yellow line "almost every day." Evidence of firing points, marked by piles of bullet casings, was observed on embankments facing Gaza City. Hamas has accused Israel of "hundreds of violations" of the ceasefire. Col Shoshani affirmed Israeli forces' commitment to the US-led peace plan but stated they would ensure Hamas no longer poses a threat to Israeli civilians and would remain as long as necessary. He added, "It's very clear to everyone that Hamas is armed and trying to control Gaza... we're far from that."
US-Led Peace Plan and Hamas Actions
The US-led plan stipulates that Hamas disarm and transfer power to a Palestinian committee overseen by international figures. However, Col Shoshani claimed Hamas was attempting to rearm and assert dominance. He stated, "Hamas is trying to arm itself, trying to assert dominance, assert control over Gaza. It's killing people in broad daylight, to terrorise civilians and make sure they understand who is boss in Gaza. We hope this agreement is enough pressure to make sure Hamas disarms." Israeli forces presented a map of what they described as a "vast network of tunnels, almost like spider's web" found beneath the rubble, with some destroyed, some intact, and others still being sought.
Casualty and Hostage Information
On October 7, 2023, more than 1,100 people were killed in Hamas attacks on Israel, and 251 others were taken hostage. Since then, the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza reports that more than 68,000 Gazans have been killed. The same ministry attributes more than 240 deaths to alleged Israeli violations of the ceasefire.