Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Julian Borger in Sderot

Amid the blasts of countless bombs, the rattle of gunfire shows Israelis are in Gaza – and will stay

Smoke rises amid destroyed buildings in Gaza seen from Sderot
Smoke rises amid destroyed buildings in Gaza seen from Sderot on October 28, 2023. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Anadolu/Getty Images

The heavy fog that cloaked Gaza’s agony on the morning after Israeli troops arrived was burned away by the sun – only to be replaced by the smoke of hundreds of bombs, and between the blasts, there was a new sound: machine gun fire.

The sporadic rattle coming from the northern town of Beit Hanoun could be heard from a hillside five kilometres away, across the border in Sderot, audible proof that the Israeli troops who crossed into Gaza on Friday night were still there on Saturday. The taking of Gaza territory had begun.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.