IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari issued a statement to the media on Monday morning regarding the situation in the Gaza Strip. He emphasized that the IDF now has control over all the Israeli townships surrounding the Gaza Strip. According to him, the morning's fighting stemmed from isolated incidents involving a few terrorists. Additionally, he countered reports of equipment shortages in the IDF that had circulated on social networks and in the media, emphasizing, "The IDF is on the offensive."
Hagari stated, "We have control over the villages, and the recent events in the villages and cities are isolated incidents." He reported that three terrorists were killed in the Shaar HaNegev area by a reserve force, one terrorist was eliminated in Kibbutz Be’eri, four terrorists were killed in Kibbutz Alumim, and five terrorists were killed in the Sufa and Holit area.
דובר צה"ל תא"ל דניאל הגרי: "עברנו להתקפה, בכל מטרה - יש מחבלים"@lirankog pic.twitter.com/uvbabUrNE4
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) October 9, 2023
He added, "We are securing the area, with villages under our control and no ongoing fighting within them. While there may still be terrorists in the vicinity, they encounter military force wherever they gather. Our infantry brigades are fighting valiantly, and we are witnessing heroic events."
The IDF spokesman elaborated on the efforts to secure the perimeter fence, which had been breached in several places. "We are guarding these breaches using aircraft, drones, and tanks to prevent any infiltration into Israeli territory. We have initiated civilian evacuations in villages near the fence; 15 out of 24 have been evacuated, with the rest to follow tomorrow. Sderot will not be evacuated at this stage."
🚨 JUST IN: The UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Palestine: "We are horrified by what is happening and we call for a truce."
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) October 9, 2023
Source: Al Jazeera
Video: Gaza under intense bombing. pic.twitter.com/Xaj4Wwires
Simultaneously, while Hagari delivered his statement, a heavy barrage of rockets struck Ashdod and Ashkelon. In Ashdod, direct hits were observed, leading to car fires and a 50-year-old woman being seriously injured. In Ashkelon, four individuals sustained injuries from shrapnel resulting from interceptor systems, with one in serious condition.
وَمَا رَمَيْتَ إِذْ رَمَيْتَ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ رَمَىٰ#حماس_تحت_القصف #السيوف_الحديدية pic.twitter.com/4DaTzTp4Nz
— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) October 9, 2023
Hagari concluded his statement by asserting, "The IDF is actively pursuing an offensive strategy. We have launched powerful attack waves, employing 50-60 aircraft in wide formations. Even at this moment, we are conducting attacks in the northern Gaza Strip. We are targeting and will continue to target thousands of locations that have been involved in attacks. Each target we strike is associated with terrorists; we do not target areas indiscriminately. Any location serving as their headquarters or safehouse will be subject to attack. We have eliminated hundreds of Hamas terrorists within Israeli territory and along the border and within Gaza."
