Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have announced that they captured a Hamas compound in Gaza, which housed observation posts, training facilities, and underground tunnels. The operation resulted in the deaths of several Hamas fighters. This came after a day of intense offensive action, with Israeli forces conducting airstrikes, naval attacks, and ground battles that targeted Hamas commanders, including Jamal Mussa, who was responsible for the organization’s special security operations.
The IDF conducted over 450 airstrikes on Hamas tunnels, militants, military compounds, observation posts, and anti-tank missile launch sites. Additionally, IDF naval assets targeted Hamas command centers, anti-tank launch sites, and observation posts. The ground battles led to the deaths of Hamas battalion commanders. The IDF stated that all actions were based on intelligence provided by the Israel Securities Authority and their own intelligence gathering.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that the death toll has reached 10,022, including 4,104 children, since the start of the conflict. This followed a surprise attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, that killed 1,400 people in Israel. The ministry also revealed that eight Palestinians were killed in attacks on two hospitals in Gaza City.
In response to the ongoing violence, Israel announced a four-hour pause in the fighting to allow civilians to safely evacuate to the southern end of Gaza. IDF spokesman Avichay Adraee stated that the Salah al-Din Road, which connects the north of the strip with the south, would be open for passage between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. He urged civilians to follow instructions and move south for their safety.
Meanwhile, the Jordanian Air Force delivered much-needed medical supplies to their field hospital in Gaza through an airdrop. King Abdullah II expressed Jordan’s commitment to supporting the Palestinians and posted photos of crates draped with the Jordanian flag being loaded onto a military transport aircraft.
