What’s happening:

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) demolished a symbolic statue in Gaza that Hamas had erected to commemorate their claimed victory over the IDF’s Golani Brigade during the 2014 conflict known as Operation Protective Edge.

Why it matters:

The destruction of this statue serves as a statement of resilience by the Golani Brigade’s 13th Battalion, signaling that any attempts to glorify the deaths of Israeli soldiers will be met with a strong response. This act also underscores the ongoing confrontations between the IDF and Hamas, reflecting the enduring tensions in the region.

Key details:

In a significant display of force, the IDF seized control of Shejaia’s Palestine Square, where the statue was located. The operation was carried out by the Golani Brigade’s 13th Battalion, in coordination with the 188th Brigade’s combat team, indicating a collaborative military effort.

The backdrop:

On July 20, 2014, seven IDF soldiers from the 13th Battalion were killed when their armored personnel carrier was hit by an explosive device in Shejaia. The statue, which had a raised fist emerging from an APC, was seen as a direct reference to this tragic event and included the name of Oron Shaul, a soldier whose remains are still held by Hamas.

The bigger picture:

This event adds to a series of recent IDF actions in Shejaia, including the overtaking and destruction of a Hamas battalion’s headquarters. These measures may be indicative of Israel’s broader strategy to dismantle symbols and structures of Hamas’s military presence in Gaza.

Official statements:

The commander of the 13th Battalion emphasized their intent to target any sites that celebrate attacks on their brigade, stating: We are here, the 13th battalion, at the place where the terrorist organization Hamas erected a statue glorifying the tragedy that befell the brigade during Protective Edge. We send a clear message to Hamas: wherever such a statue is erected, we will come and destroy it.

This story was first published on jpost.com.