Israel-Hamas war: Inside the military base where Israeli troops train for expected ground assault on Gaza
A grid of narrow streets, framed by concrete apartment blocks and pro-Palestinian graffiti, is where Israeli troops are training in preparation for an expected ground assault on Gaza.
Sky News was given rare access to what is designed to look like a section of a Palestinian city – but is actually an area jutting out of a sprawling military base in southern Israel, surrounded by farmland.
“We built this so soldiers could be trained at the highest level possible so when the day would come we would need to do something like this, we would be ready,” said Major Doron Spielman, a spokesperson for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).
“We didn’t know a week ago that this would immediately go into action and be a very real training ground with possibly a very real purpose.”
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‘We will eliminate them all’
Street-to-street combat is one of the hardest forms of warfare, with each building a potential booby trap, each alley a possible ambush point and snipers able to hide inside homes.
It makes practising how to operate in an urban environment crucial for soldiers from Israel’s Givati Brigade, who will likely be among the first wave of troops in any ground invasion into the Hamas stronghold of Gaza City.
Standing in front of a white stone wall daubed with a Palestinian flag, one of the commanders in the brigade said he and his soldiers were ready for anything.
Asked if he had a message for Hamas, Olek said: “Let them be ready… Let them know that we are going to reach every terrorist, both who entered Israel’s territory, and also those who did not enter Israel’s territory.
“We will reach everyone. We will eliminate them all. We will restore peace and tranquillity to the State of Israel.”
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Troops ready to move ‘on a dime’
Away from the fake city, Sky News was taken to see elements of the Givati Brigade mobilise in lines of military vehicles across a dusty field, also as part of the training exercise.
The unit, which was previously deployed into Gaza during the last major incursion in 2014, incorporates a combination of tanks, troops and engineers, skilled at defusing bombs.
They are ready to move “on a dime”, Major Spielman said.
“These soldiers are well trained, able to receive orders and implement them immediately.”
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Civilians switched into military mode
Perhaps surprisingly, many of the troops had until a week ago been living ordinary civilian lives as doctors, students, and lawyers.
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But they switched into military mode in response to an unprecedented call-up of reservists in the wake of the 7 October terror attack by Hamas militants against Israel that left more than 1,300 Israeli citizens dead, the majority of them civilians, including women and children.
Dozens more have been kidnapped and taken into Gaza. Their fate will doubtless be playing into plans for the shape and timing of any ground incursion.
Standing next to a Humvee, Neal and Noy, both 23 and reservists, are part of a team of all-female soldiers who help drive military vehicles in the training exercises.
Asked why they wanted to serve, Neal said: “It is the most important job for us.”
Noy added: “We are fighting for our country and all of us need to be a part of it. The men are in the war, they are going to go in, and we are going to do our best, the women, to help [with] training.”
Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy has met Israel’s prime minister in an effort to secure a ceasefire deal in Gaza before the president-elect takes office on 20 January.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed details of the meeting with Steve Witkoff on Saturday, adding that the head of the Israeli Mossad intelligence agency has been deployed to Qatar in order to “advance” talks.
It was not immediately clear when David Barnea would travel to Doha for the latest round of indirect discussions between Israel and Hamas.
Earlier on Saturday, an Israeli official said some progress had been made, mediated by Egypt, Qatar and the United States, to reach a deal in Gaza.
Ronen Bar (left), director of Israel’s security agency, and David Barnea (right), head of Mossad, at a ceremony marking the 7 October Hamas attack. File pic: Reuters
The mediators are making renewed efforts to halt fighting in Gaza and free the remaining Israeli hostages held there before Mr Trump takes office.
A deal would also involve the release of some Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
Families of Israeli hostages welcomed Mr Netanyahu’s decision to dispatch the officials, with the Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters describing it as a “historic opportunity”.
Mr Witkoff arrived in Doha on Friday and met the Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar’s foreign ministry said.
Egyptian and Qatari mediators received reassurances from Mr Witkoff that the US would continue to work towards a fair deal to end the war soon, Egyptian security sources said, though no further details were released.
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Israel launched its assault on Gaza after Hamas fighters stormed across its borders in October 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures.
Families of the roughly 100 hostages still held in Gaza are pressing Mr Netanyahu to reach a deal to bring their loved ones home.
Since then, more than 46,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials, with much of the area destroyed and gripped by a humanitarian crisis, with most of its population displaced.
Pope Francis has been honoured with America’s highest civilian award by President Joe Biden, who has described the pontiff as “a light of faith, hope, and love that shines brightly across the world”.
It is the first time Mr Biden, 82, has given the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction during his four years in office.
In a statement, the White House said the award is “presented to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavours”.
Mr Biden had been scheduled to present the medal to Pope Francis, 88, in person on Saturday in Rome on what was to be the final overseas trip of his presidency. But the president cancelled his visit to monitor the California wildfires.
The White House said Mr Biden bestowed the award during a phone call in which they also discussed efforts to promote peace and alleviate suffering around the world.
President Joe Biden presented Bono with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Pic: AP
Denzel Washington was also recognised. Pic: AP
Michael J Fox was bestowed with the honour. Pic: AP
The award can be presented with or without distinction.
Mr Biden presented the medal of freedom – without distinction – on 5 January to several people including fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton, humanitarian and U2 singer Bono, fashion designer Ralph Lauren and actors Michael J Fox and Denzel Washington.
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Mr Biden himself is a recipient of the award with distinction, recognised when he was vice president by then president Barack Obama in a surprise ceremony eight years ago.
Barack Obama presented Joe Biden with the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction in 2017. File pic: AP
The citation for the pope’s honour said his “mission of serving the poor has never ceased”.
“A loving pastor, he joyfully answers children’s questions about God. A challenging teacher, he commands us to fight for peace and protect the planet. A welcoming leader, he reaches out to different faiths,” it added.
Ukraine has captured two North Korean soldiers fighting in Russia’s Kursk region, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.
The injured pair are now in Kyiv and communicating with the Security Service of Ukraine, the country’s domestic intelligence agency, he said.
Ukrainian special forces and paratroopers captured the North Koreans, Mr Zelenskyy said in a post on X.
“As with all prisoners of war, these two North Korean soldiers are receiving the necessary medical assistance,” he said.
“I have instructed the Security Service of Ukraine to grant journalists access to these prisoners.
“The world needs to know the truth about what is happening.”
Mr Zelenskyy said capturing the soldiers alive was “not easy”. He also claimed Russian and North Korean forces fighting in Kursk have tried to conceal the presence of North Korean soldiers, including by killing wounded comrades on the battlefield to avoid their capture and interrogation by Ukraine.
The post included images of the two men – one with a bandage around his jaw and the other around both hands and wrists – and what appeared to be a Russian military document.
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Ukraine’s security service SBU on Saturday provided further details.
It said one of those detained had no documents at all, while the other had been carrying a Russian military ID card in the name of a man from Tuva, a Russian region bordering Mongolia.
“The prisoners do not speak Ukrainian, English or Russian, so communication with them takes place through Korean translators in cooperation with South Korean intelligence,” a statement said.
One of the soldiers claimed he had been told he was going to Russia for training, rather than to fight against Ukraine, according to the SBU.
The agency added both men are being provided with medical care in line with the Geneva Conventions, and investigated “in cooperation with South Korean intelligence”.
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North Korean regular troops entered the war on Russia’s side in October, according to Ukraine and its Western allies.
US, South Korean and Ukrainian intelligence assessments suggest up to 12,000 North Korean combat troops have been sent by Pyongyang under a pact with Moscow.
They believe North Korea has also been supplying Russia with vast quantities of artillery shells.
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