“We are in the ‘heart’ of [do campo de refugiados de] Jabalia [norte]in the heart’ [do bairro] de Shujaiya [na cidade de Gaza] and now also in the ‘heart’ [da cidade meridional] of Khan Yunis,” said Yaron Finkelman, responsible for the army’s Southern Command, in a statement, without it being possible to confirm the Israeli army’s claims from an independent source.
The Israeli commander stated that this was “the most intense day” of military action since the beginning of the ground operation, on October 27, both “in terms of terrorists killed, and in terms of armed clashes and the use of ground firepower.” and aerial”.
“We intend to continue attacking and securing our gains,” he added.
Army action
After the end of the truce last Friday (01/12), the Israeli air force carried out “two rounds of attacks that involved dozens of planes from all fighter squadrons”.
These, he continued, used hundreds of rounds of ammunition in attacks on tunnels, operational shafts and anti-tank missile launch sites to support the movement of infantry soldiers on the ground.
According to Finkelman, the attacks have led to “intense fighting” in recent days, particularly in the areas of Jabalia and the neighborhood of Shujaiya, where videos on social media show a landscape of devastation due to heavy bombing that destroyed many buildings.
According to Gaza authorities, the Israeli bombing of Shujaiya, carried out on Monday, caused the death of at least 300 people.
Fenced refugee camp
In the last 24 hours, Israeli troops also surrounded the Jabalia refugee camp, in the north, which they consider to be a stronghold of the terrorist group Hamas, “destroying numerous infrastructures”.
“Soldiers gained control of central Hamas positions in the area, engaged and killed terrorists, and located weapons and infrastructure, some of which were found in civilian buildings, including a school,” Finkelman said.
The war between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas in Gaza began on October 7, following a surprise attack by the Islamist group on Israeli territory that left more than 1,200 dead and more than 240 hostages taken to the Gaza Strip.
To date, 122 hostages remain in the enclave, as well as the bodies of another 15 hostages confirmed dead.
Israeli bombings have killed around 15,900 people in Gaza, the majority of whom are women and children. Authorities estimate that there are more than 7,000 missing under the rubble, so the death toll could be much higher.
By LUSA