Over the last several days, IDF troops operating under the Southern Command, with support from the Shin Bet and Military Intelligence, successfully neutralized over 100 members of Hamas. Among those killed were high-ranking operatives, including Hakam Issa, who served as Hamas’s Head of Combat Assistance; Mohammad Al-Sheikh, who led operations for the Khan Younis Brigade; Issa Abbas, a platoon commander in the Zaytoun Battalion; and Mohammad Jarousha, who commanded a platoon in the Tzabara Battalion.
As part of renewed military efforts, Division 98, which re-engaged in ground operations this week, joined forces with Division 162 to carry out strikes on Hamas operatives affiliated with the Gaza Brigade in northern Gaza.
The Israeli Air Force has so far conducted airstrikes on more than 7,500 terror-linked sites throughout Gaza. These targets have included storage locations for weapons, rocket launch positions, tunnel networks, and members of various terror groups within the coastal enclave.
The IDF now maintains tactical dominance over roughly 65% of Gaza. “IDF and Shin Bet forces continue to operate in Gaza in line with the goals of the war, aiming to protect Israeli citizens, particularly those living in the Gaza envelope,” a statement said.
