Having killed hundreds of terrorists, including five Hamas battalion commanders and nine Hamas company commanders, as well as their deputies, the IDF’s 99th Division completed its mission in the northern Gaza Strip, the military announced on Monday.
Additional senior Hamas members were also reportedly eliminated during the operation.
The completion of the mission marked the end of a four-month operation, the IDF noted.
The division’s operations reportedly included dismantling hundreds of weapons storage facilities, observation posts, combat compounds, and terrorist infrastructure above and below ground, which the IDF stated resulted in "significantly degrading the enemy’s capabilities."
Seven regular and reserve brigades operated in the unit, now replaced by the 252nd Division.
Those eliminated were Hamas terrorists operating in Beit Hanun, among whom two were company commanders from the Beit Hanoun Battalion responsible for committing dozens of terror attacks against troops in the area, the military continued.
Additionally, more than one kilometer of underground Hamas tunnels was reportedly destroyed in the north during the mission.
Efforts in Gaza not over yet
Despite the IDF announcement, Defense Minister Israel Katz said last week that more than 60% of the terror group’s tunnels remain undestroyed in Gaza.
The remaining tunnels are located on both sides of the Yellow Line, the marking determining the extent of the IDF’s withdrawal as part of the Trump-led ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
The 99th Division helped establish the line and aided humanitarian efforts in the area.
The line has since drawn conflict between Israel and Hamas, with the terror group committing multiple ceasefire violations by firing an anti-tank missile and opening fire on Israeli soldiers operating near the line.
This resulted in the IDF conducting a ‘series of strikes’ against terror targets before reinforcing the ceasefire deal.
The deal has not managed to surpass its first stage, whose completion was reliant on the return of all remaining hostages held by Hamas. In an unusual move, Israel allowed several of its members to cross the Yellow Line, alongside the Red Cross, to search for the bodies of the remaining hostages yet to be returned by the terror group.