GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Satellite imagery obtained on Monday morning reveals the extensive scope of Israel’s incursion into northern Gaza. Hundreds of armored vehicles have advanced well beyond the border and deep into urban areas on the outskirts of Gaza City. Analysts were anticipating a rapid and overwhelming ground assault, but Israel has thus far refrained from such a move. Nevertheless, the imagery provided by Planet Labs, a commercial satellite company, depicts a significant invading force, with numerous groups of armored vehicles making their way across open fields and congregating in urban spaces.

This latest imagery offers the clearest depiction yet of the extent of Israel’s invasion into Gaza and the destruction it has caused. Israeli vehicles can be seen as far south as the Al Karama neighborhood, located north of Gaza City. Prior to this, videos released by the Israeli military had already shown lines of tanks operating near the border.

The satellite images highlight the heavy damage inflicted on many nearby buildings, which appear to have been heavily damaged or completely destroyed by airstrikes. Furthermore, the images reveal hundreds of craters left behind by airstrikes and shelling, some of which are located within homes and on roads. Entire apartment blocks have been flattened.

According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, over 8,000 people, including many children, have been killed across Gaza since Israel launched retaliatory airstrikes in response to a Hamas attack on October 7.

These satellite images specifically depict one of the three directions in which Israeli tanks and other vehicles have advanced towards Gaza City, the largest city in Gaza. The armored vehicles have been observed on the main road running from north to south of Gaza, as well as in the northeastern corner of the strip, in Beit Hanoun.

Israeli forces have chosen to refrain from direct fighting in Gaza City and have instead positioned themselves on the city’s outskirts. This strategy enables them to delay engaging in the most dangerous combat and keep their military options open.

The imagery also highlights the destruction and extensive demolition of fields and buildings in Al Karama over the past nine days. The destroyed farmland has been used as an assembly point for dozens of armored vehicles, leaving behind substantial tank tracks that provide insight into their movements.

Further south, the satellite images showcase a series of destroyed buildings, along with additional craters and military vehicles.

In summary, the satellite imagery obtained reveals the significant advancement of Israeli armored vehicles into northern Gaza. The destructive consequences are evident through the extensive damage inflicted on nearby buildings and the numerous craters left behind by airstrikes and shelling. The death toll in Gaza has surpassed 8,000, with many of the victims being children. Israeli forces have deliberately avoided direct combat in Gaza City, opting to remain on the city’s outskirts. The extent of the destruction can also be seen in the demolished fields and buildings in Al Karama, serving as an assembly point for Israeli armored vehicles.