The IDF has penetrated Hamas's City Hall and the office of its brigade chief in Khan Yunis in southern Gaza.
Brigade 7 Commander Col. Elad Tzuri said his unit “has destroyed terror infrastructure of the enemy and killed terrorists” in the heart of Gaza City as well as now in Khan Yunis for the last two weeks.
Besides taking over Hamas Khan Yunis Brigade Chief Rafa’a Salameh’s headquarters, the IDF has also taken over the vacation home of Gaza Chief Yahya Sinwar.
In addition, the IDF has taken over Bani Suheila, made progress in eastern and southern parts of Khan Yunis, and destroyed significant Hamas tunnel infrastructure, including over 30 tunnel shafts.
The army has also destroyed dozens of Hamas anti-tank missile attack and lookout positions.
Moreover, the IDF has seized large amounts of Hamas electronic devices and intelligence items.
IDF operates in Khan Yunis, slowly but surely
At one point, the IDF was also in the center of Khan Yunis, but it has not remained there and continues to maneuver to outwit Hamas ambush attempts.
Generally, the military is making slow but steady progress on the restive southern Gaza city, but could be weeks or more from having the same control there that it has in the northern Strip.
Top defense officials estimated last month that the “main war” will be completed by the end of January.
However, last week the Jerusalem Post learned that these “main war” plans might not include full control of the Rafah-Philadelphi Corridor area and also might not include having yet killed or arrested Yahya Sinwar or Gaza military chief Muhammad Deif.
Part of what has slowed down progress is that nearly every house is boobytrapped or otherwise being used by Hamas to present a threat to the progress of IDF troops, including with Hamas using a large number of rocket-propelled grenades.
Also, Hamas has proven more resilient and more ready to continue fighting than it sometimes was in northern Gaza.
On October 25, IDF soldiers had already killed the Commander of the North Khan Yunis Battalion Taysir Mubasher. In the past, he had commanded Hamas’s naval forces and held several positions in weapons manufacturing.
He also had extensive experience directing terror attacks and was a relative of senior Hamas operatives, including Deif – yet so far Hamas has recovered from that and other losses in the South better than in the North.
The IDF has also now publicized its progress in central Gaza at Deir al-Balah where it has overtaken a key Hamas position, confiscated significant weapons and equipment, and taken control of terror infrastructure.
The military also took over the house of a Nukbeh commander and found various Hamas naval commando items.