The Israel Defense Forces said on Friday that troops have been operating in recent days in Gaza City’s southwestern Zeitoun quarter, targeting explosives, gunmen and terrorist infrastructure above and below ground.
Soldiers destroyed a booby-trapped structure used to store weapons, the military said. In one clash, terrorists fired an anti-tank missile at troops, who returned fire and killed the assailants. No Israeli casualties were reported.
The Israeli Air Force has been providing support, striking terror targets in coordination with ground forces.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir on Wednesday approved the military’s “main framework” for seizing control of Gaza City. During a meeting with the IDF’s General Staff Forum, Zamir endorsed “the central concept for the plan for the next stages” in the war, the army stated. The Security Cabinet approved the plan last week by a “decisive majority.”
The military said on Saturday that it was preparing to relocate residents from combat zones to southern Gaza ahead of the offensive. Civilians will receive tents and other shelter equipment starting Sunday, Reuters reported.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that Israel will not occupy the Strip, saying the expansion of the war is aimed at destroying Hamas and freeing the local population from its regime of terror.
On Thursday night, Netanyahu outlined conditions for ending the fighting, including the full disarmament of Hamas; the return of all 49 remaining hostages kidnapped on Oct. 7, 2023, and of the remains of Lt. Hadar Goldin, taken in 2014; the demilitarization of the entire Strip; security control of Gaza by the IDF; and establishing “an alternative civilian administration” in the enclave.
