The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continued a focused and steady push deeper into Gaza City over the weekend, targeting remaining Hamas strongholds and eliminating terrorist threats with precision and force. Fighting remains intense as IDF ground troops and the Israeli Air Force (IAF) engage Hamas operatives entrenched in civilian areas, operating through tunnels and planting explosives.
According to official IDF statements, forces are making methodical progress. Over the past 24 hours, troops uncovered weapons caches, including anti-tank missiles, explosives, and rockets. Several terrorists attempting ambushes were eliminated. The IDF dismantled combat compounds and military structures, often in close coordination with airstrikes by the IAF.
The IAF carried out approximately 140 strikes across the Gaza Strip in the past day. These strikes targeted Hamas military infrastructure, observation posts, and gathering points for terrorists. In one operation, five terrorists firing an anti-tank missile at Israeli troops were eliminated before they could inflict harm.
In another precise strike, IDF forces identified terrorists attempting to plant explosives while hiding under blankets. The IAF responded immediately, neutralizing the threat. In southern Gaza, Israeli forces also destroyed surveillance equipment and dismantled additional terrorist infrastructure.
Despite clear evidence of Hamas’s use of human shields and military assets embedded within civilian populations, international condemnation continues to target Israel. Accusations of “genocide” have been echoed by anti-Israel demonstrators and several Arab nations at the United Nations. These accusations ignore the fact that Hamas initiated the conflict on October 7, 2023, with a brutal attack on Israeli civilians.
Hamas continues to hold 48 Israeli hostages, including 20 believed to be alive. The IDF’s actions—including operations reportedly targeting Hamas leaders in Doha—signal a shift: Israel will no longer allow its military strategy to be dictated by hostage threats or diplomatic pressure.
