With its walls covered in pro-Hamas slogans and the Muslim call to prayer ringing out from its minarets, it looks like the densely populated streets of Gaza City.
But since 2005, Israel Defense Forces soldiers have patrolled these streets while receiving hand-to-hand combat training in a fake desert city in Israel known as “mini-Gaza.”
Ahead of a highly anticipated ground attack, Israeli troops are preparing to fight their way through the real streets of Gaza at the Tze’elim military base, about 10 miles from the Gaza Strip border.
The £45 million fake city – complete with murals of Hamas leaders and the frequent sound of the muezzin calling Muslims to prayer – was built in 2005 with help from the United States.
It covers 60 hectares of land and features 600 buildings, including fake shops, schools, houses, as well as fake tunnels and eight-story apartment blocks.
Israeli soldiers take positions during a training session simulating urban warfare at the Zeelim military base in southern Israel
Israeli soldiers rest next to a mural depicting the late Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmad Yassin during an urban warfare exercise at an army training facility at the Zeelim military base in southern Israel, January 4, 2022. Officially, the location is known as the Urban Training Center for warfare. But to soldiers it is known as mini-Gaza
Israeli soldiers climb a wall as they conduct a mock attack during an urban warfare exercise at an army training facility at Zeelim Army Base
An Israeli soldier dressed as a Palestinian militant (left) lies on the ground next to his colleague, pretending to be dead, during a training session simulating urban warfare at the Zeelim military base in southern Israel, January 4, 2022
Two M-16 rifles hang on a wall with graffiti depicting the Palestinian flag at the IDF Urban Warfare Training Center at the Zeelim military base in southern Israel
It is officially known as the Urban Warfare Training Center.
But Israeli soldiers conducting military exercises within its walls call it “mini-Gaza” because of its striking resemblance.
The narrow streets, concrete buildings and open spaces are intended to simulate the urban environments in which Israel’s soldiers must operate.
Some soldiers wear Hamas’ red-and-white checkered scarves and brandish AK-47 assault rifles to role-play with enemy fighters during exercises.
To create an authentic atmosphere, the narrow streets are also decorated with Palestinian flags and “Free Gaza” slogans made by the Israeli army’s only official graffiti artist.
The training center offers space for exercises for an entire brigade of 2,000 soldiers.
Visiting American and European troops also trained in Mini Gaza.
Each time a conflict broke out with Hamas, Israel was accused of using excessive force in crowded residential areas, contributing to the civilian death toll.
The Israeli military says it is making every effort to spare civilians, including building Mini Gaza to train its soldiers, while accusing Hamas of using them as human shields.
Israeli soldiers transport supplies at the end of an urban warfare exercise at an army training facility at the Zeelim army base in southern Israel
Israeli soldiers are seen through a broken window of a guard post during an urban warfare exercise
An Israeli soldier pretending to be a dead Palestinian militant lies on the ground during a training session simulating urban warfare at the Zeelim military base
Israeli soldiers take part in a training session simulating urban warfare
An Israeli soldier reads from a book next to graffiti depicting the Palestinian flag during an urban warfare exercise at an army training facility at Zeelim Army Base
Israel is now widely expected to launch a real ground offensive to kill Hamas leaders, recover prisoners and destroy the group’s military infrastructure, much of which is in residential areas.
Nearly 400,000 military reservists, as well as regular infantry units and heavily armored battalions, are surrounding Gaza ahead of what is expected to be a major ground attack.
Street fighting would likely result in mounting casualties on both sides.
Israel has ordered more than a million Palestinians – nearly half the territory’s population – to leave Gaza City and surrounding areas to the south of the enclave.
The military says it is trying to clear civilians ahead of a major campaign against Hamas in the north, where the militants are said to have extensive networks of tunnels and rocket launchers.
Hamas, meanwhile, urged people in the Gaza Strip to stay in their homes, and the Israeli military released photos on Sunday showing a Hamas roadblock blocking traffic from flowing south.
Hospitals in Gaza will run out of fuel for generators in the next 24 hours, endangering the lives of thousands of patients, according to the United Nations. Gaza’s only power plant was shut down due to a lack of fuel after Israel completely sealed off the 25-mile area following the Hamas attack.
The World Health Organization said hospitals were “overcrowded” as people sought safety.
“We are concerned about disease outbreaks due to mass displacement and poor water and sanitation,” it said. Four hospitals in northern Gaza are no longer operating and 21 have received Israeli evacuation orders. Doctors refused, saying it would mean death for seriously ill patients and newborns on ventilators.
The WHO said water shortages caused by Israel’s decision to cut off water supplies, coupled with a lack of fuel for pumps and desalination stations, were putting thousands of hospital patients at risk.
“Water is needed to ensure sanitary conditions in inpatient wards, operating rooms and emergency rooms. “It is important for the prevention of hospital-acquired infections and for the prevention of outbreaks in hospitals,” the WHO said.
Israel has said the siege will not be lifted until Hamas releases all prisoners.