Israel entered the south of the Gaza Strip: the IDF named the purpose of the operation

Fighting began in the south of the Gaza Strip / Getty Images

Fighting between the Israel Defense Forces and Hamas has begun again in the Gaza Strip. Now the IDF is conducting a military operation in the south of the Gaza Strip.

Initially, the IDF did not confirm reports of an IDF offensive in the southern Gaza Strip. However, the Israeli military later announced the start of a ground military operation in the area.

What Israel says

IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Hertz Halevi said that on December 3, the Israel Defense Forces eliminated battalion commanders, company commanders and many Hamas militants.

And yesterday morning we started the same thing in the south of the Gaza Strip. This will be no less powerful than the operations in northern Gaza. It will bring no less results,” he noted.

According to him, fighting continues in the north for “deepening achievements.” Halevi added that the IDF extended its offensive to all areas of the Gaza Strip and carried out more than 10,000 strikes.

One of the objectives of this operation is to locate places where militants are holding Israeli hostages. IDF fighters said they were able to take control of the tunnels housing Hamas commanders. The IDF is also engaged in destroying the underground infrastructure of Palestinian terrorists throughout the Gaza Strip.

What's happening in the Middle East

• Let us remember that on the first day of winter, Israel resumed hostilities against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The IDF explained this as a violation of the ceasefire agreement by Palestinian militants.
• By the evening of December 1, Israeli aircraft carried out strikes on Hamas infrastructure. After this, large-scale ground battles began in the Khan Yunis area (the second largest city in the enclave).
• Retired Lieutenant Colonel of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces Mark Babot, in an interview with Channel 24, said that during the truce, Hamas brought food, water and fuel to its underground bunkers. He suggested that Palestinian militants were given the opportunity to rebuild their strength and rearm.