EXCLUSIVE – ‘It’s apocalyptic, but Hamas dug tunnels under civilians’: Inside the Israeli artillery unit hitting the Gaza Strip as IDF close in on terror leader’s home
MailOnline has been given exclusive access to an Israeli artillery unit shelling the Gaza Strip as Israel confirmed it had its “bittest day of fighting”.
The Israeli Defense Forces fought brutal hand-to-hand combat inside Gaza, supported by the powerful 155mm howitzers of the artillery corps.
As many as 250 air strikes were carried out on various targets across the strip in an attempt to root out Hamas leaders in hiding, officials said. MailOnline was taken to a secret location just three miles from the Gaza Strip.
Wearing earplugs for protection, we were shown about a dozen units that had been dug into temporary bunkers in fields in southern Israel, with IDF officials forbidding the exact locations to be revealed.
Under a gray sky, a thundering artillery unit with the motto “Sophistication and Power” fired shell after shell at regular intervals while their targets were radioed with pinpoint accuracy from Gaza by ground troops.
The stunning images, taken by photographer Roland Hoskins, clearly show the shell leaving the muzzle as it flies through the air.
The Israeli Defense Forces fought brutal hand-to-hand combat inside Gaza, supported by the powerful 155mm howitzers of the artillery corps.
Chicago native Major Shraga (left), deputy brigade commander of the Jerusalem Battalion (pictured with MailOnline’s Nick Pisa), who had just emerged from Gaza City, called the area “apocalyptic.”
Major Shraga, a Chicago native, called the scenes in Gaza “apocalyptic.”
Under a gray sky, a thundering artillery unit with the motto “Sophistication and Power” fired shell after shell at regular intervals while their targets were radioed with pinpoint accuracy from Gaza by ground troops.
In impressive images taken by photographer Roland Hoskins, the shell could clearly be seen flying through the air as it exited the muzzle.
The recoil threw the howitzer back several feet and a cry of “fire in the hole” was heard in Hebrew before the artillery piece fired, engulfing the unit in white smoke.
Black Hawk helicopters crossed the sky at various intervals, delivering fresh supplies, and an impending thunderstorm looming over the horizon gave the area a surreal feel.
The fire targeted targets in the cities of Gaza and Jabaliya in an attempt to destroy terrorists, as well as rocket batteries that had been firing rockets at Israel in recent days.
The deadly M109 Doher takes just a few seconds to reach its target. It weighs 28 tons and has a crew of six.
With a maximum range of 18 miles, the howitzers would easily be able to strike northern Gaza and are expected to move further south at some point to target Khan Yunis.
Chicago native Major Shraga, deputy brigade commander of the Jerusalem Battalion, fresh from Gaza City, called the area “apocalyptic.”
He said: “Right now we are maneuvering in Gaza City and right now there is a battle going on in Jabaliya.
“What you see here is our artillery support that supports our maneuver there.
“I was there for three weeks and I can tell you that Gaza is now a dangerous, bloody war zone. War is cruel, unpleasant, apocalyptic.
“To be honest, this is very unpleasant to see, but Hamas is responsible for this. They planned the battlefield by digging tunnels under the civilian population.
“They called me and I jumped straight to the first window from Chigako back to Israel because I’m a reservist.”
Under a gray sky, a thundering artillery unit with the motto “Sophistication and Power” fired shell after shell at regular intervals while their targets were radioed with pinpoint accuracy from Gaza by ground troops.
Israel uses Israeli M109 howitzers and shells positions in Gaza
Wearing earplugs for protection, we were shown about a dozen units that had been dug into temporary bunkers in fields in southern Israel, with IDF officials forbidding the exact locations to be revealed.
MailOnline has been given exclusive access to an Israeli artillery unit shelling the Gaza Strip as Israel confirmed it had its “bittest day of fighting”.
Israeli soldiers sit near the site of shelling in the Gaza Strip
Palestinians and civil defense teams carry out search and rescue operations after the Israeli army attacked the Al Shaboura refugee camp overnight in Rafah, Gaza Strip, on December 7.
Palestinians mourn relatives killed in the Israeli bombing of Rafah in the Gaza Strip on November 7.
Major Shraga added: “We all have work to do during normal times, but when we receive the call to defend our country and our people, we have no doubts.
“The main goals here are to bring home each of our hostages and to make sure that Hamas does not have military capabilities.
“We will continue to do this, no matter the cost, no matter the rigors, until we get the job done.”
In addition to the Americans, the unit also includes reservists from Britain, France and Mexico who responded to headquarters’ October 7 call to return and fight.
Major Shraga added: “The way the maneuver works is that the guys on the ground are supported by artillery units here, and a shell from here will reach Gaza in twenty seconds.
“We are here at the moment, but awaiting orders to move south if necessary, and can very quickly pack up and head out.
Black Hawk helicopters crossed the sky at various intervals, delivering fresh supplies, and an impending thunderstorm looming over the horizon gave the area a surreal feel.
Under a gray sky, a thundering artillery unit with the motto “Sophistication and Power” fired shell after shell at regular intervals while their targets were radioed with pinpoint accuracy from Gaza by ground troops.
“Morale is very high and, in truth, everyone is deeply motivated not by hatred of the Palestinians, but by a deep sense that we have no choice.
“This war was brought upon us by Hamas, which brought hell to our communities and areas, and we also remain strong for our families.
“We all want to go home, but until we return all the hostages and eliminate Hamas, we will not return home.
“We are united in this and will only go home when it is safe.”
Meanwhile, the IDF reported that since the outbreak of war there has been a massive turnout of female conscripts being drafted into units.
It comes after the Mail last week published the dramatic story of the all-female armored unit of the Karkala Brigade, which killed 100 terrorists in a legendary battle in southern Israel on October 7 without suffering a single casualty.
IDF data showed that the Artillery Corps received 132 percent of the call-up and the Air Force 101 percent, with a source saying that was “more than they originally planned.”