In a significant escalation of military operations within the Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have delivered a substantial blow to Hamas' operational capabilities. Over the last 24 hours, approximately 200 terror-related targets have been struck, marking a decisive turn in the ongoing conflict.
Among the targeted sites, the IDF discovered a concealed weapons complex in northern Gaza, alarmingly situated within a civilian building. This facility, shockingly in proximity to schools, a clinic, and a mosque, was found to house an extensive array of armaments. IDF soldiers uncovered explosive bomb belts, notably some designed for children, alongside dozens of explosives, hundreds of grenades, and critical intelligence documents.
Wow! IDF troops uncover child-sized suicide vests in Gaza home raid.https://t.co/2Iv1FFM2UU
— Arsen Ostrovsky 🎗️ (@Ostrov_A) December 24, 2023
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, IDF Spokesperson, briefed reporters on the extensive findings. Israeli forces have systematically destroyed and seized around 30,000 explosive devices during the ground war, including a vast array of anti-tank missiles and rockets. These findings underscore the extensive militarization within the region, often dangerously close to civilian establishments.
"Our operations in Daraj-Tufah have been eye-opening," Hagari stated. "Weapons caches, including significant rocket arsenals and equipment from Hamas’s naval commando unit, were found in schools. Neutralizing these arms is a step towards dismantling Hamas' terror capabilities."
In the northern Gaza Strip, IDF forces conducted a precise operation against a group of terrorists emerging from a military structure used for surveillance. The ensuing air strike effectively neutralized the terror squad. Further successes were reported in Jabalya, where IDF troops eliminated seven terrorists and demolished four Hamas observation posts, with coordinated aircraft and artillery support.
#israel #gaza #Palestine In the northern area, IDF action along tunnel street and al Jala, I passed the area marked yellow in the absence of more detailed information. In any case, this area of Daraj and Shikh Radwan is under heavy attack by ground troops pic.twitter.com/X589WCqSMZ
— Jesse Pinkman (@ictusconfirmed) December 23, 2023
A targeted raid in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza, led to the discovery of an extensive array of weapons, including grenades and explosives, in a Hamas military command center.
Rear Adm. Hagari highlighted the expanded IDF operations across southern Gaza, focusing on dismantling Hamas’s underground infrastructure. "Our troops are facing heavy battles upon entering new Hamas strongholds, especially in the Khan Younis area," he noted, emphasizing the intensified efforts against the terror group's tunnel networks.
The military achievements in Gaza City's Daraj and Tuffah neighborhoods are particularly noteworthy. Troops uncovered a significant weapons cache in a local school, including explosives and rockets. These arms, linked to Hamas's naval forces, posed a substantial threat to Israeli naval vessels.
🚨 IDF EXPANDS INTO SOUTHERN GAZA
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) December 24, 2023
IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari:
"Troops are engaged in heavy battles with the entry to the new Hamas strongholds."
In the Khan Younis area, Hagari says the IDF is working "very heavily" against Hamas's tunnels.
"We've expanded combat… pic.twitter.com/J3yiJtd5Ca
The ongoing conflict has had a severe toll, with at least 1,300 casualties reported in Hamas's attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on Oct. 7. The humanitarian aspect remains a concern, with 129 individuals, including men, women, children, soldiers, and foreigners, currently held captive in Gaza by Hamas. The IDF continues its exhaustive efforts in identifying victims and searching for human remains, as the situation remains fluid and complex.
