Dr Mike Evans

IDF begins operations in northern Gaza By Dr Mike Evans

Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and Israel Security Agency (ISA) forces, led by the 99th Division, initiated an operation in the Zeitoun area of central Gaza Strip. The objective is to continue dismantling terrorist infrastructure and eliminating terrorist operatives in the region.

The operation commenced with a series of intelligence-driven aerial strikes on about 25 terror targets, comprising military structures, terror tunnels, observation posts, sniper posts, and other terror infrastructure.

Currently, IDF ground troops are securing the Zeitoun area. On Wednesday, in a coordinated effort involving IDF, ISA, Israeli Navy, and ISA intelligence, an Israeli Air Force (IAF) aircraft eliminated terrorist Ahmed Ali, the Commander of Hamas’ Naval Unit in Gaza City.

In recent years, Ali played a significant role in managing projects for Hamas’ Naval Unit in Gaza. During the conflict, he was responsible for attacks on Israeli territory and against IDF ground troops in Gaza.

In the past week, Ahmed escalated terrorist activities targeting IDF troops in central Gaza. The capture of the Gaza side of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip was announced by the Israel Defense Forces on Tuesday morning.

The IDF initiated a targeted operation in eastern Rafah late Monday evening following a unanimous decision by the War Cabinet to proceed with the operation. This decision was made despite Hamas claiming to have agreed to a hostage deal shortly beforehand.

American officials responded cautiously to the claim, while Israeli officials dismissed Hamas’ announcement, stating it would not be taken seriously. Israel indicated it would review the group’s official response transmitted on Monday before determining its reaction.

In reaction to Hamas’ unexpected announcement, Israeli officials issued strongly worded statements to media outlets, asserting that the terror group was attempting to deceive the public by agreeing to a proposal that Israel had explicitly rejected.

Israeli forces seized control of the Rafah Crossing, a critical point along the 2-mile stretch of the Philadelphi Corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border. Two days earlier, the Israeli government had urged residents to evacuate in anticipation of Israel’s ground incursion.