In the nine weeks since Hamas launched its cross-border attack on the northwestern Negev, Israeli jets have struck more than 22,000 terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli military said on Sunday.
Since Hamas violated the ceasefire-for-hostages deal on Dec. 1, the Israel Air Force has carried out strikes on more than 3,500 terrorist targets in the coastal enclave, the statement added.
“IDF forces work in cooperation, from the air, sea and land, to eliminate terrorists and to locate and destroy weapons and terrorist infrastructure,” said the army.
Overnight Saturday, the air force attacked terror infrastructure and underground tunnel shafts in the Hamas stronghold of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, the IDF reported, adding that a drone assisted troops in eliminating a terrorist cell planning an attack.
The IDF resumed combat operations in Gaza on Dec. 1 after Hamas broke a week-long ceasefire by firing rockets at Israel, throwing into doubt the further release of hostages held by the terrorist group.
In a statement published by Al Jazeera on Sunday night, Hamas propaganda chief Abu Obeida claimed that “the enemy is still receiving blows from us, and what is coming is greater.” The remaining hostages will only be released “on our terms,” he vowed.
According to data published by Israel’s Foreign Ministry last week, Palestinian terrorists have fired more than 11,500 rockets towards Israeli territory since Hamas started its war against the Jewish state on Oct. 7.
Between Oct. 7 and Dec. 4, 9,357 people sustained injuries in Palestinian attacks targeting Israelis, according to the ministry.
Throughout Sunday, Gaza terror rockets targeted Israeli border communities, including Erez, Ibim, Kissufim, Nahal Oz, Netiv HaAsara, Nir Am, Nir Yitzhak, Pri Gan, Sufa, Sderot and Yad Mordechai.
