UPDATED: Israel-Hamas Flash Report 27 OCT 2023 - 14:45 PDT - Large Incursion into Gaza Ongoing

Updated - added a short video and more information about comms in Gaza.

What we know.

Israel has started a significant incursion into the Gaza Strip, striking in the same location they attacked yesterday. This is a much larger group, and based on the sound, there is a pitched battle. We have three unique sources reporting there is a significant increase in air operations. In our assessment, this is suppression and close air support.

A 📺 short clip from Trey Yingst of the United States news agency Fox News. We cannot geolocate, but he reports that there is indirect tank fire ongoing near him, which indicates he is 5 to 7 kilometers from the forwardmost line of friendly troops. Be very careful looking for videos because, regrettably, most are misattributed.

The IDF is maintaining these are "incursions" and will continue through the coming days with broadening intensity.

There is very little news coming out of Gaza, and it is unclear if this is Hamas holding operational security, power outages have crippled Internet access, or if Israel is using electronic warfare to jam communications. In our assessment, it is likely a combination of the three. In a longer report, Yingst verified that communications are down in Gaza, and the only way a person can communicate is if they have a foreign SIM card and can ping a cell tower located outside of the Gaza Strip.

There are still thousands of foreign nationals stuck within the Gaza Strip. The United States accused Hamas of blocking the exit from the Rafah Gate. The State Department claimed that a deal had been reached with Egypt for all U.S. passport holders to exit. The U.S. citizens told the State Department that when they got to the staging area, they were blocked by Hamas gunmen. We cannot independently verify the claim.