The IDF struck around 150 targets all within the Shejaiya neighborhood in Gaza on Sunday night, leveling large portions of the neighborhood associated with Hamas terror infrastructure in a short period of time.
The aerial assault followed a similar earlier assault on Beit Hanoun, with both of these instances showing a large escalation in the speed and volume of airstrikes by the IDF.
Shejaiya was also a central fighting point between the IDF and Hamas during the 2014 Gaza war, with a large number of Palestinians also being killed during the fighting.
Over 50 Israeli fighter jets operated against Hamas in Gaza's Beit Hanoun on Sunday, according to the IDF Spokesperson. Dozens of IDF fighter jets have struck near the Gaza border fence in Beit Hanun, according to an IDF statement.
IDF has hit over 800 targets in Gaza Sunday afternoon. They also struck 120 targets in the Beit Hanoun area that were staging invasions into Israel.
IDF Chief Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Daniel Hagari said, "Hamas carried out the worst massacre of Israeli civilians in Israeli history. Hamas was more barbaric than ISIS."
Hamas claimed that it’s al-Qassam Brigades had sent additional forces into Israeli territory on Sunday, as Israeli forces continued efforts to clear terrorists from a number of Israeli towns and bases on the second day of the war.
Heavy armed clashes were reported in Magen, Kfar Aza, Kissufim, and Kibbutz Be’eri, with Hamas claiming that it had managed to take over the IDF base in Kissufim again.
Earlier in the morning, clashes were reported between Palestinian terrorists and Israeli forces in the town of Yated, with Israeli forces successfully shooting and killing the terrorists.
Additionally, the IDF stated that it had thwarted an attempt by two terrorists to infiltrate into Israel through the Zikim beach.
In a speech on Sunday, al-Qassam Brigades spokesperson Abu Obeida stated that “Since last night, the al-Qassam command has been able to replace some combat forces with other forces and send additional forces. The al-Qassam artillery also provides support with mortar shells and rockets, the most recent of which was to support the operatives in Sderot.”
“We call on our people in all arenas of the country to engage in this battle that will be immortalized in history and will be sung by generations, with God’s help,” added Obeida.