The IDF says it struck over 600 terror targets in the past days in Gaza as the ground operations develop in the Strip.
“During clashes with terrorists in the Gaza Strip, IDF troops killed dozens of terrorists who barricaded themselves in buildings and tunnels, and attempted to attack the troops,” the IDF said.
Videos and photos released by the army showed tanks, infantry, and bulldozers active in Gaza.
WATCH: The IDF continued its ground operations inside Gaza on Monday morning, destroying Hamas terrorist infrastructure across the Strip.(CREDIT: @IDF ) Read more: https://t.co/W7WEgelv3a pic.twitter.com/4sR1yzo97o
— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) October 30, 2023
Israel increased ground operations beginning on Friday evening after two raids by armored vehicles last week. Clashes in Gaza have seen increased contact with Hamas terrorists on the ground.
In another incident, IDF aircraft were guided by ground forces to strike a site inside a building that was used by Hamas. The IDF said the building had over 20 Hamas terrorist operatives inside it. Overall, the army says more than 60 terror targets have been hit. This includes “weapons depots and dozens of anti-tank missile launching positions, as well as hideouts and staging grounds used by the Hamas terrorist organization.”
In addition, the IDF struck an anti-tank missile launching site near Al-Azhar University. A warplane was used in the strike.
Palestinian media published footage showing IDF tanks on the outskirts of Gaza City on Monday. Agence France-Presse reported that a central road in Gaza had been cut off by the IDF. Palestinian media reported that terrorist groups targeted IDF tanks near Gaza City on Monday morning.
The IDF took out a number of Hamas commanders over the past day, including Jamil Baba, the commandr of the naval force in the central camps; Muhammad Safadi, the commander of the anti-tank formation in the Tafah battalion; Muwaman Hegazi, a prominent operative in the anti-tank formation in the Tafah battalion; and Mihammad Awadallah, a senior member of the office of Hamas's production headquarters.
IDF chief: Israeli military focused on dismantling Hamas
On Sunday, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi toured an artillery position and vowed that the IDF is focused on victory and dismantling Hamas. Yesterday saw increased fighting on the ground and clashes with Hamas. This included gun battles at Erez and in a coastal area near Zikim.
In addition, the IDF struck 450 targets yesterday. It was unclear if this number is now part of the 600 targets hit over the last several days.
The battles in Gaza come amid tensions in the North and strikes in Syria in response to launches from Israel's hostile northern neighbor. There were also clashes in Jenin overnight.