But Gaza, heavily urbanized, with Hamas deeply entrenched, is an especially complex battlefield.
The LandscapeThe Gaza Strip is about 140 square miles, a narrow band slightly larger in area than Las Vegas, with a cluster of urban population centers.
Gaza City, the capital, has around 700,000 people packed into around 20 square miles, with more tall buildings than U.S.-led forces faced in the battle for Mosul, creating a more dangerous three-dimensional front.
Israel has destroyed hundreds of Gaza buildings in airstrikes.
Hamas, long before its assault on Israel this month, had built hundreds of miles of tunnels under Gaza City that can be used to move between attack positions, hide hostages and protect supplies.
Persons:
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s, Biden, “ I’ve, Lloyd J, Austin III, —, ” John W, Spencer
Organizations:
”, Modern, U.S . Military Academy
Locations:
Gaza, Israel, Iraq, Las Vegas, Gaza City, Mosul, Mariupol, Ukraine