Six-Day War

==== Other Israeli forces ====
Further south, on 5 June, the [[8th Armored Brigade (Israel)|8th Armored Brigade]] under Colonel [[Albert Mandler]], initially positioned as a ruse to draw off Egyptian forces from the real invasion routes, attacked the fortified bunkers at Kuntilla, a strategically valuable position whose capture would enable Mandler to block reinforcements from reaching Um-Katef and to join Sharon's upcoming attack on [[Nekhel|Nakhl]]. The defending Egyptian battalion outnumbered and outgunned, fiercely resisted the attack, hitting a number of Israeli tanks. Most of the defenders were killed, and only three Egyptian tanks, one of them damaged, survived. By nightfall, Mandler's forces had taken Kuntilla.{{Sfnp|Oren|2002|p=202}}

With the exceptions of Rafah and Khan Yunis, Israeli forces had initially avoided entering the [[Gaza Strip]]. Israeli Defense Minister [[Moshe Dayan]] had expressly forbidden entry into the area. After Palestinian positions in Gaza opened fire on the Negev settlements of [[Nirim]] and [[Kissufim]], IDF Chief of Staff [[Yitzhak Rabin]] overrode Dayan's instructions and ordered the 11th Mechanized Brigade under Colonel Yehuda Reshef to enter the Strip. The force was immediately met with heavy artillery fire and fierce resistance from Palestinian forces and remnants of the Egyptian forces from Rafah.{{cn|date=June 2022}}

By sunset, the Israelis had taken the strategically vital Ali Muntar ridge, overlooking [[Gaza City]], but were beaten back from the city itself. Some 70 Israelis were killed, along with Israeli journalist Ben Oyserman and American journalist [[Paul Schutzer]]. Twelve members of [[United Nations Emergency Force|UNEF]] were also killed. On the war's second day, 6 June, the Israelis were bolstered by the [[Paratroopers Brigade|35th Paratroopers Brigade]] under Colonel [[Rafael Eitan]] and took Gaza City along with the entire Strip. The fighting was fierce and accounted for nearly half of all Israeli casualties on the southern front. However, Gaza rapidly fell to the Israelis.{{cn|date=June 2022}}

Meanwhile, on 6 June, two Israeli reserve brigades under Yoffe, each equipped with 100 tanks, penetrated the Sinai south of Tal's division and north of Sharon's, capturing the road junctions of [[Abu Ageila]], Bir Lahfan, and Arish, taking all of them before midnight. Two Egyptian armoured brigades counterattacked, and a fierce battle took place until the following morning. The Egyptians were beaten back by fierce resistance coupled with airstrikes, sustaining heavy tank losses. They fled west towards Jabal Libni.{{Sfnp|Oren|2002|p=211}}