Defense Minister Yoav Galant has ordered a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip as part of the ongoing effort to combat Hamas terrorists. During a situation assessment held at the Southern Command, Galant stated, "There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel - everything is closed. We are confronting individuals who behave like human animals, and we are responding accordingly."
Earlier today, IDF spokesman Brigadier General Daniel Hagari provided an update on the situation in the Gaza Strip, saying, "The crossings in the Strip are sealed, there is no electricity, and no one is allowed to enter or leave. Gaza is under a strict blockade. Regrettably, there are reports of numerous casualties among civilians trapped under collapsed buildings due to our military operations."
شعب اسرائيل حي🇮🇱
— إسرائيل بالعربية (@IsraelArabic) October 9, 2023
في كل الأحوال تبقى إسرائيل قوية حصينة منيعة في وجه الإرهاب! pic.twitter.com/omqdiVVz49
In the morning, IDF aircraft targeted a munitions warehouse and an entrance to an underground terrorist tunnel used by senior Hamas officials in the Gaza Strip. Additionally, an operational headquarters of the Islamic Jihad was struck within a mosque in the Zeitoon neighborhood, and another headquarters used by Hamas in Khan Yunis was also targeted.
Furthermore, during the afternoon, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the citizens of Israel and Hamas in Gaza, conveying that Israel is only in the early stages of its campaign. He emphasized the resilience of the Israeli people and assured that every effort would be made to support them. Netanyahu stated, "We are going to change the Middle East, and we stand united in this endeavor."
Simultaneously, as the IDF appears to be taking an offensive stance in Gaza, four terrorists infiltrated Israeli territory from the Lebanese border. Three of them were neutralized during a confrontation with Israeli forces, with helicopters dispatched to the scene. It appears that one terrorist may have returned to Lebanese territory.
Emotional video from flight to Israel today: Until the last moment they didn’t know if they would land at Ben Gurion. When the pilot announced they would be landing, everyone stood up, sang Hatikva and cried 🇮🇱❤️ pic.twitter.com/cqz1GmHi7a
— Laura Ben-David (@LauraBenDavd) October 9, 2023
Shortly thereafter, another suspected intrusion incident was reported along the Lebanese border near the village of Yaara. Gunfire exchanges were reported in the area, prompting the Israeli Air Force to respond swiftly. Residents in towns within a 10-kilometer radius of the Israeli-Lebanese border have been advised to seek shelter in their bomb shelters temporarily. Earlier today, alarms were heard in Yaftah village near Lebanon, Ramot Naftali and the Hermon slopes area. One rocket launch fell in an open area and was detected by the IDF. These tensions on Israel's northern border are not new, as yesterday morning peace was distrubed by a Hezbollah mortar attack on an IDF base in the Mount Dov area.
