Siege of Al-Qarara

Siege of Al-Qarara
Part of the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip during the Israel-Hamas war
Gaza Strip under Palestinian control   Gaza Strip under Israeli control   Former occupied territories regained from Israel
Date 6 December 2023 – 7 April 2024 (4 months and 1 day) Siege: 12 December 2023 – 10 January 2024 (4 weeks and 1 day) Location Al-Qarara, Gaza Strip, Palestine 31.368158622143625°N 34.33525976144858°E / 31.368158622143625; 34.33525976144858 Result Palestinian victory Israel retreats from Al-Qarara Qarara Battalion remains combat effective Israel fails to capture senior Hamas officials or Israeli prisoners
Belligerents
Israel	Hamas Palestinian Islamic Jihad Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine
Commanders and leaders
Unknown	Unknown Unknown Unknown
Units involved
Israeli Defence Forces Bislamach Brigade 7th Armored Brigade	Palestinian Joint Operations Room Al-Qassam Brigades Qarara Batallion Al-Quds Brigades National Resistance Brigades
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

The siege of Al-Qarara was a military engagement between invading Israeli forces and local Palestinian forces.

Siege

On the 6th of December, Israeli forces invaded Al-Qarara, clashing with Palestinian forces. On the 11th of December, Israeli forces attacked the areas of al-Sureij and al-Qarara. On 31st of December, it was reported that Israeli forces had moved troops into Al–Sureij, tightening the siege around Al-Qarara. On the 10th of January, Al Jazeera was able to access Al-Qarara following Israeli retreat where it documented massive destruction and large number of deaths.

On the 3rd of March, Israeli forces resumed operations in Al-Qarara. On the 9th of March IDF Bislamach Brigade clashed with Palestinian militants in Qarara. Hamas' Qarara Battalion remained combat effective. On the 16th of March, Israel made small advances in Al-Qarara. On March 21st, Israeli 7th Brigade clashed with Palestinian forces who targeted their tanks with RPGs. On the 24th of March, Israel targeted a Hamas meeting in Qarara. On the 29th of March, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine separately claimed a series of attacks in Al-Qarara. On the 2nd of April, IDF 7th Brigade conducted an airstrike targeting Palestinian militants and weapon depots in Qarara. On the 3rd of April, IDF reported to have destroyed a rocket launcher inside an olive garden in Al-Qarara. On the 7th of April, 2024 Israeli forces withdrew from Al-Qarara and other areas in southern Gaza strip. They failed to find senior Hamas officials or hostages there despite intelligence indicating so.

Aftermath

On 22 May 2024 Israeli announced a raid on Al-Qarara killing several Hamas fighters. On June 2nd, Israeli shelling of Al-Qarara was reported.

See also

• List of engagements during the Israel–Gaza war
• Siege of Khan Yunis

References

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