The Israel Defense Forces has entered a new phase in the war against Hamas, focused on securing operational control of Gaza City, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir confirmed on Monday.
“In accordance with the Security Cabinet’s decision, we are at the beginning of a new stage of the combat in Gaza. We will develop the best method, in line with the defined objectives, while maintaining the professionalism and principles that guide our operations,” said Zamir during a situational assessment with the General Staff to evaluate the military’s preparedness.
“We will do so with the readiness of the troops and weaponry, with the hostages at the forefront of our minds—we will do everything to protect their lives and bring them back home,” he continued.
The Israeli Security Cabinet voted overnight Thursday by “decisive majority” to approve Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to expand the war effort.
The forum voted on five principles: disarming Hamas, returning all 50 hostages, demilitarizing Gaza, achieving Israeli security control of the Strip and creating an alternative civil administration.
“The alternatives presented to the Security Cabinet—all are intended to defeat Hamas, with a full understanding of the implications in every aspect,” added Zamir. “The IDF will be able to achieve operational control of Gaza City, just as it did in Khan Yunis and Rafah. Our troops have conducted ground operations there before, and we will be able to do so again.”
Netanyahu on Friday reiterated that Israel will not occupy the Gaza Strip, saying the expansion of the war is aimed at destroying Hamas and freeing the local population from its regime of terror.
“We are not going to occupy Gaza—we are going to free Gaza from Hamas,” said Netanyahu.
“Gaza will be demilitarized, and a peaceful civilian administration will be established, one that is not the Palestinian Authority, not Hamas, and not any other terrorist organization,” he continued. “This will help free our hostages and ensure Gaza does not pose a threat to Israel in the future.”
Over the past three months, the IDF’s 401st Brigade, led by the 162nd Division, operated in the areas of Jabalia and Daraj Tuffah in northern Gaza as part of “Operation Gideon’s Chariots,” the army said Tuesday.
The troops carried out raids to clear the area of terror groups, striking Hamas and Islamic Jihad infrastructure, “above and below ground.”
In coordination with the Israeli Air Force, numerous terror targets were attacked by drones and fighter jets, including “structures, observation posts, and launch positions that posed a threat to our forces,” it said.
Dozens of terrorist gunmen were eliminated, while the ground troops also dismantled “dozens” of tunnel routes and shafts, the IDF added.
On Sunday, soldiers serving in northern Gaza “swiftly eliminated” a terrorist who had fired at them earlier, lightly injuring an IDF soldier, according to a separate statement. Artillery troops “identified and eliminated Hamas terrorists in support of the ground troops.”
In the southern Strip, the troops identified a terror cell attempting to plant explosives near a military position. An IAF aircraft struck and eliminated the terrorists, according to the statement.
Troops also continue to operate in the Khan Yunis area of the southern Strip, it stated. The soldiers “dismantled several significant and strategic underground infrastructure sites and eliminated terrorists who posed a threat to the troops in ground and aerial strikes.
“IDF troops are operating to defend the civilians of the communities near the Gaza Strip. Over the past day, the troops dismantled tunnel shafts and eliminated terrorists who posed a threat,” it added.
On Monday, the IDF struck Islamic Jihad terrorists in central Gaza’s Deir al-Balah area, acting on Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) intelligence.
Soldiers serving in western Khan Yunis “struck and dismantled a structure from which mortars were launched toward IDF troops operating in the area,” according to that statement.
“The IDF and ISA will continue to operate against the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip,” the statement concluded.
