The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have successfully reclaimed the regions of Beit Hanoun and Jabaliya in northern Gaza, while continuing their pursuit of Hamas leadership in Khan Yunis, located in southern Gaza.
Tragically, five IDF soldiers have been confirmed as killed in action since Wednesday, and the bodies of five hostages have been recovered.
The IDF's 162nd Division is currently engaged in military operations in Jabaliya, where approximately 1,000 terrorists have been neutralized. As of December 9, an estimated 7,000 Hamas terrorists have been killed, a figure that National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi describes as "a conservative estimate." Additionally, 3,000 individuals have been taken into custody in Gaza.
During a raid on the Rantisi hospital, it was discovered that hostages were being held underground within the hospital complex. However, they were relocated before IDF forces entered the premises, as reported by Arutz Sheva. During subsequent combat activities in the neighboring area, the bodies of five civilians and soldiers, who were abducted on October 7, were discovered and returned to Israel.
In Gaza City, IDF forces discovered mortars and explosives in a house adjacent to a kindergarten. In another nearby residence, a rocket launcher aimed towards Israel was found, along with a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG), as reported by JNS. In Khan Yunis, military uniforms, explosive charges, and combat equipment were found inside a residential home. Engineering forces subsequently destroyed a tunnel from which terrorists had emerged to fire an RPG at troops.
Over the past two days, IDF forces have conducted raids at a school on the outskirts of Al Shati in northern Gaza, where terrorists were believed to be operating. Soldiers discovered weapons and maps belonging to Hamas, according to JNS.
The IDF has also announced that it has gained operational control of the Hamas stronghold neighborhood of Shujaiyya, in northern Gaza. Soldiers of the 36th Division engaged in close-quarters combat with terrorists using firearms and explosives, as reported by JNS.
The IDF's 252nd Reserve Division has concluded its operations against the Hamas terror group in the Beit Hanoun area of northern Gaza. The region's control has been handed over to the Gaza Division, indicating the military's firm control of that sector, as reported by the Times of Israel.
The IDF's 5th Brigade conducted operational activity in the Kasbah complex in Beit Hanoun last week, according to Arutz Sheva. With the support of aerial fire, observation posts, and combat engineering forces, the combat teams cleared the Kasbah area, eliminated terrorists, and struck numerous terrorist targets and infrastructure.
The forces collected a variety of weapons, including Kalashnikov-type weapons, grenades, cartridges, ammunition boxes, mortar bombs, and vests including IDF vests, as reported by Arutz Sheva. The 5th Brigade also found uniforms of the Hamas terrorist organization, including children's uniforms, Hamas documents, telephones, and an IDF kitbag.
The forces also discovered several tunnel shafts in the homes of Hamas operatives, the largest of which was located in a school. From these tunnels, terrorists launched attacks on the forces the day before the brigade's operation.
Soldiers of the IDF's 98th Division have been operating in the Khan Yunis area in the South of Gaza for three weeks, neutralizing enemy personnel and terrorist infrastructure.
The forces eliminated numerous terrorists in close-quarter battles, located dozens of tunnel shafts that were subsequently destroyed, and exposed significant intelligence materials that contributed to increasing the effectiveness of the operation, as reported by Arutz Sheva.
The operation is accompanied by a close and precise fire plan known as the "Fire Belt". The 214th Artillery Brigade and the Commando Brigade strike using guided and accurate weapons such as the 'Iron Sting' and other precision missiles.
The IDF and Shin Bet forces eliminated numerous terrorists through airstrikes, including the Head of Khan Yunis's UAV Array, the Commander of the Observation Company, and field-level Nukhba Commanders in the Khan Yunis Brigade, according to Arutz Sheva.
The 98th Division also found a report to Hamas' Khan Yunis Brigade Commander, regarding financial expenses for 2022, revealing that Hamas spent over one million dollars on the production of doors and concrete for terror tunnels this year.
The IDF on Friday morning cleared for publication the names of two fallen soldiers whose families were notified:
Lieutenant Shai Ayeli, 21, from Ashkelon, who fell in battle in the northern Gaza Strip.
Sergeant first class (res.) Tal Shua, 31, from Beer Sheva, who fell in battle in the southern Gaza Strip.
In addition, a reservist of the 179th Reserve Armored Brigades 8104th Battalion, was seriously injured in a battle in the southern Gaza Strip.
A soldier in the Shaked Battalion of the Givati Brigade was seriously injured in a battle in the northern Gaza Strip. A soldier in the 12th Battalion of the Golani Brigade was seriously injured in a battle in the southern Gaza Strip.
The injured soldiers were evacuated for medical treatment and their families were notified.
On Thursday, the names of three fallen soldiers were cleared for publication: Sergeant Lavi Ghasi, 19, from Hashmonaim, fell in battle in the northern Gaza Strip.
Lieutenant Yaacov Elian, 20, from Ramat Gan, fell in battle in the northern Gaza Strip.
Lieutenant Omri Shwartz, 21, from Moshav Shadmot Dvora, who fell in battle in the northern Gaza Strip.
Login