Tel al-Hawa

History

Tel al-Hawa was formerly the headquarters of the Preventive Security Service, until Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in 2007 and turned it into a police station. After capturing the neighborhood, Hamas militiamen had it renamed to "Tel al-Islam". The Doghmush clan held journalist Alan Johnston in Tel al-Hawa between March and July 2007, until Hamas secured his release.

The neighborhood was severely damaged in the 2008–09 Gaza War, codenamed "Operation Cast Lead" by Israel. It was the scene of some of the fiercest fighting of the war. Dozens of Hamas fighters were killed or wounded, and a dozen IDF soldiers were also killed and wounded. At least 12 civilians were killed.Tel Al-Hawa: The invasion and then after. Ma'an News Agency, January 17, 2009

Battle of Tel al-Hawa

Tel al-Hawa was the site of significant Israeli military activity during the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip during the Gaza war. On November 4, 2023, Al-Qassam Brigades claimed to have destroyed an Israeli tank that had entered Tel al-Hawa.

On February 10, 2024, the body of Hind Rajab, a six-year-old who was trapped in a car with all her relatives killed and who had called the Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance to find her, was found dead in Tel al-Hawa along with the two drivers of the ambulance that were dispatched to find her.{{Cite web |title= 'They killed her twice': Hind Rajab's mother mourns girl, 6, found killed days after being trapped under Israeli fire |website=NBC News |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/hind-rajab-gaza-girl-6-found-dead-trapped-israeli-fire-rcna138263 |access-date=2024-02-11}}

On July 8, 2024, there were reports of a large-scale Israeli invasion into Tel al-Hawa, beginning with a large wave of airstrikes followed by a ground offensive. After the IDF withdrew, rescuers in Gaza found 60 dead bodies scattered across the neighbourhood. They reported "there are bodies of entire families, there are also bodies inside a home of an entire family that was completely burned." Rescuers said that the Israeli army had set homes on fire before withdrawing and firefighters had to reach these buildings on foot.

In July 2024, despite being initially impeded by the Israeli military, civil defense forces uncovered more than 40 bodies trapped beneath collapsed buildings in the neighborhood after an Israeli retreat from the area; the military did not comment on the matter.

Abubaker Abed, reporting from Tel al-Hawa during the January 2025 Gaza war ceasefire period showed video of demolished residential apartment buildings, numerous destroyed fire engines, water tankers, and obliterated rescue equipment of the Gaza City Civil Defense Forces. He described the destruction he recorded there as "an attempt was made to annihilate the social fabric of life" in Tel al-Hawa.

References

References

1. [https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7804218.stm Gaza air campaign 'a first stage'] ''[[BBC News]]''. 2009-01-02.
2. [http://conflictblotter.com/2007/06/16/59/ Inside Tel al Hawa] {{Webarchive. link. (2011-10-06 Conflict Blotter.)
3. [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3412813,00.html Hamas: We'll execute Fatah leaders] ''[[YNET]]''. 2007-06-14.
4. [https://archive.today/20070629055833/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/hamas-surrounds-kidnap-hideout-as-johnstons-fate-hangs-in-balance-455841.html Hamas surrounds kidnap hideout as Johnston's fate hangs in balance] ''Independent''.
5. Raafat, Shaimaa. (2023-11-05). "Al-Qassam destroys Israeli tank in Tal al-Hawa with ‘Al-Yassin 105’ shell".
6. Fabian, Emanuel. (8 July 2024). "IDF troops advance into Gaza City's Tel al-Hawa neighborhood – Palestinian media reports".
7. (12 July 2024). "Rescuers say they find dozens of bodies after Israelis scale back Gaza City fight with Hamas".
8. (2024-07-12). "Devastation in Tal Al-Hawa-: Charred Bodies, Burned Homes Found after Israeli Retreat".
9. (2024-07-12). "Emergency workers uncover dozens of bodies in a Gaza City district after Israeli assault".
10. The Electronic Intifada. (2025-02-15). "What I saw touring Gaza after Israel's genocide, with Abubaker Abed".