IDF Reopens Humanitarian Corridor in Gaza 

Latest Developments 

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continued overnight Sunday to call on Gazans in the northern Gaza Strip to move south so they can avoid fighting between Israel and Hamas terrorists. On the evening of November 5, the IDF said it had “facilitated the reopening of a humanitarian corridor in order to allow civilians in the northern Gaza Strip to move southward for their own safety.” Hamas uses civilians in Gaza as human shields and has continued to carry out ambushes and attacks on Israeli forces, even as civilians try to make their way south. In a video released by the IDF on November 5, a member of Israel’s Unit for Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) speaks in Arabic to Gazans, urging them to use the humanitarian corridor.  

Expert Analysis 

“The war against Hamas in Gaza is complex and requires enabling civilians to flee Hamas terror rule while preventing Hamas from exploiting civilian suffering to gain sympathy. By facilitating humanitarian corridors, Israel can help civilians have a pathway out of Gaza City. Hamas’s use of human shields must end.” — Seth J. Frantzman, FDD Adjunct Fellow 

“The evacuation of civilians from the northern Gaza Strip serves a dual purpose. First, it eliminates the threat of noncombatants getting caught in the crossfire. Second, it enables the Israeli military to focus more on striking areas where Hamas members are located without causing significant collateral damage to the civilian population.” — Joe Truzman, Research Analyst at FDD’s Long War Journal 

Humanitarian Aid Enters Gaza 

Seventy-five trucks carrying international humanitarian aid entered Gaza on November 5, according to Israel’s COGAT. Israel has repeatedly stressed that it is fighting against Hamas terrorists in Gaza, not against civilians. On November 6, the Jordanian air force air-dropped medical aid to Gaza to supply a Jordanian field hospital. “A royal air force plane dropped urgent medical aid using parachutes to the Jordanian field hospital in Gaza whose supplies were about to run out due to the delay of delivering aid through Rafah crossing,” Jordan’s state news agency said. The air drop was the first of its kind over Gaza.  

IDF Continues to Strike Hamas Targets  

Israeli forces have encircled Gaza City and pushed across Gaza, cutting off Hamas terrorists in the city from other elements of Hamas in southern Gaza. The IDF also took control of a Hamas terror compound and struck 450 targets on November 5 and 6. They included terror tunnels, anti-tank launch posts, and Hamas observation posts. Israel has been operating on the ground in Gaza for more than a week. Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, massacring more than 1,400 people. Israel carried out aerial strikes on the terrorist group during the first three weeks since the attack. 

Related Analysis 

“Israeli Forces Isolate Northern Gaza Strip,” FDD Flash Brief 

“5 Things to Know About the Hamas-Run Gaza Health Ministry,” FDD Insight 

“Israel Vows to Eliminate Hamas Terror Leader Yahya Sinwar,” FDD Flash Brief