What it is about
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Thursday that they have successfully demolished over 50 tunnels along the Philadelphi Corridor at the Egypt-Gaza border. These tunnels are widely believed to be used by Hamas for smuggling arms into Gaza.
Why it matters
The destruction of these tunnels disrupts Hamas’ supply chain, weakening its operational capabilities. This move is a crucial step in Israel’s continued efforts to ensure national security by targeting vital infrastructure that facilitates terrorism.
Details
In addition to demolishing the tunnels, the IDF reported that dozens of Hamas militants had been neutralized, and numerous strategic targets, including burrowed weapons depots, booby-trapped buildings, and other critical facilities, were destroyed.
Southern Gaza Operations
In Rafah, located on the southern edge of Gaza, Israeli troops killed over 20 militants by directing airstrikes at predetermined targets. In Khan Younis, further north, the 98th Division led successful operations that eliminated multiple Hamas fighters at a weapons depot. Furthermore, a Palestinian Islamic Jihad operative responsible for rocket launches was killed in a separate operation.
Evacuation Orders
The IDF issued new evacuation orders for Palestinians in Khan Younis, following recent rocket attacks. Colonel Avichay Adraee, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman, published a detailed list of zones that needed to be evacuated, urging civilians to move to the Israeli-designated humanitarian zone.
Military-Militant Engagements
Meanwhile, in the Netzarim Corridor of central Gaza, several cells of gunmen were neutralized, and critical Hamas infrastructure was destroyed. On Thursday morning, a single rocket fired from Gaza towards the Israeli community of Kissufim caused no injuries as it landed in an open area.
Hamas’ Internal Conflicts
The military wing of Hamas claimed on Thursday that a guard had killed a hostage in Gaza, acting out of personal vengeance contrary to the organization’s protocols. The IDF has yet to confirm these claims. Hamas’s spokesman also disclosed that this guard acted after receiving news of the death of his children in what they described as an Israeli strike.
Continued Hostage Controversies
This admission marks the first acknowledgment by Hamas of hostages being killed by their own guards. While this is being framed by Hamas as an isolated incident, Israel considers these claims part of the terror group’s psychological warfare.
Hostage Situation
Hamas kidnapped 251 individuals during their incursion into southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in nearly 1,200 fatalities. It is believed that 111 hostages remain in Gaza, alongside the bodies of 39 individuals confirmed dead by the IDF.
Ongoing Conflict
Since October 7, Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry has reported over 40,005 Palestinian deaths. However, these figures include more than 16,000 militants, according to Israel’s statistics. The IDF asserts that their operations have killed at least 1,000 terrorists inside Israel since the conflict began.
Final Note
As Israel persists in its counter-terrorism efforts, operations like these highlight the IDF’s dedication to national defense and disrupting terror networks that pose threats to its citizens.
This story was first published on timesofisrael.com.