The IDF facilitated the entry of 52 aid packages into Gaza with cooperation from the UAE, Jordan, and Egypt, while conducting raids and seizing weapons from Hamas in Khan Yunis, including destroying a terror tunnel and recovering explosives and firearms. The operation resulted in the death of two IDF soldiers and the injury of another soldier, amidst ongoing conflict in the region.
Two American aid workers were injured in an attack using grenades at a Gaza aid distribution center in Khan Yunis, part of ongoing violence and threats against humanitarian efforts by Hamas, which has placed bounties on aid workers. Despite these threats, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has committed to continuing its aid operations to support Gaza's civilians.
The IDF's elite forces in Khan Yunis's Hamad neighborhood have reportedly eliminated about 100 terrorists, including a commander in Hamas's special force, the Nukhba commandos, and have located terrorist infrastructures in the area. Raids on high-rise buildings and over 100 airstrikes have contributed to operational successes, with the arrest of many terrorists and the destruction of a terrorist base.
The IDF continues operations in the Khan Yunis area of the Gaza Strip, eliminating terrorists involved in the Nir Yitzhak massacre on October 7, including Nukhba forces and other militants, while also locating weapons caches. The military conducted coordinated attacks involving ground troops, the Israel Air Force, and intelligence, resulting in the deaths of approximately 20 terrorists. Additionally, Hamas terrorists complicit in the Kibbutz Kfar Aza massacre were arrested, with questions arising about the handling of indictments and a possible hostage deal.
The IDF surrounded the Hamad neighborhood in Khan Yunis, Gaza, and arrested dozens of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists who were attempting to escape during civilian evacuations. Israeli forces also eliminated about 20 terrorists in central Gaza, including a squad operating a drone in the Beit Hanun area. The IDF strikes targeted over 50 Hamas military infrastructures, including rocket launch positions and munitions warehouses.
The Israel Air Force, in coordination with artillery units, conducted around 50 airstrikes in Khan Yunis, Gaza, within six minutes, targeting terrorist infrastructure and operatives to support IDF ground troops. The strikes hit subterranean structures, military infrastructure, missile launch posts, and meeting points of terrorists, resulting in the elimination of terror infrastructure and numerous operatives. Over 30 terrorists were also killed by IDF troops in central Gaza, with one engagement leading to the elimination of a terrorist cell loading weapons.
Israeli Commando Brigade troops raided a compound in western Khan Yunis associated with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, eliminating dozens of terrorists and uncovering large amounts of military equipment. The operation, conducted by the elite Egoz Unit, was based on precise intelligence and part of ongoing efforts to root out terror elements in the area. The IDF also reported locating large quantities of weaponry, including mortars, grenades, and combat equipment, as part of their recent push in western Khan Yunis.
IDF's Egoz Unit engaged in a prolonged standoff with terrorists embedded in a building in Khan Yunis, employing the "pressure cooker" procedure to eliminate them. After the battle, a stockpile of weapons, including Kalashnikovs and grenades, was discovered at the site. In a separate encounter, two more terrorists barricaded themselves in a house and were also eliminated by the troops.
The IDF has conducted coordinated ground, air, navy, and commando operations in Gaza City and Khan Yunis, targeting and eliminating Hamas terrorists, unearthing weapons and rocket launchers, and destroying underground and military infrastructure targets. The operations resulted in the elimination of several Hamas terrorists, including a commander, and the discovery of weapons caches and military equipment belonging to terrorist groups.
The IDF's operations in Gaza's Khan Yunis have resulted in the killing of over 30 terrorists, with combat soldiers from the 7th Armored Brigade and Nahal Brigade carrying out targeted attacks, raids on terrorist infrastructures, and sniper ambushes. The soldiers also identified and killed terrorists attempting to hide among civilians and carrying explosives on motorcycles, as well as those preparing to launch an anti-tank missile at IDF forces.
IDF troops in Gaza came under anti-tank fire in Khan Yunis, but managed to push through and eliminate terrorists while clearing terror infrastructure with the assistance of the Navy. The Nahal Brigade identified and killed a terrorist who fired an anti-tank missile at them, and subsequently targeted the source of the shooting with an aircraft. Troops from the Paratroopers Brigade and Egoz Unit also killed terrorists and raided terror targets, finding weapons in the process.
Yahya Sinwar, leader of Hamas in Gaza, has reportedly lost contact with other Hamas leaders "weeks ago" and is believed to be hiding in Khan Yunis, according to Israeli military sources. Israeli forces are targeting Hamas infrastructure in Khan Yunis and are preparing for a potential ground sweep in Rafah. The military claims to have killed, wounded, and captured numerous Hamas fighters, significantly weakening the group's presence in Khan Yunis. The situation is being closely monitored by Cairo, and the military remains committed to its operations in the area.
The IDF engaged in intense fighting in Khan Yunis, arresting and eliminating terrorists involved in the October 7 attacks, with combat soldiers from various units involved. The Maglan unit killed three terrorists, while Paratroopers and soldiers from the Givati Brigade eliminated over 20 terrorists and struck terrorist targets. Additionally, the 401st Brigade and Nahal Brigade also eliminated terrorists and targeted Hamas military infrastructure in the northern and central parts of the Gaza Strip.
A knife-wielding terrorist in civilian clothing rushed an IDF position in Khan Yunis, Gaza, after throwing a grenade at Israeli forces, prompting the IDF to release bodycam footage of the encounter. The IDF Paratroopers Brigade has been engaging terrorists in close-quarters combat in densely populated urban areas of Khan Yunis to uproot embedded terror elements. The plain-clothed terrorist, who charged the IDF troops with a knife, was killed at close range by the troops, with no reported injuries among the IDF personnel. The IDF emphasized that the incident exemplifies Hamas's practice of conducting military activities under civilian pretenses.
Hezbollah launched a rocket barrage at northern Israel, triggering 33 air raid alerts, while the IDF gained ground in southern Lebanon and Gaza. Defense Minister Gallant stated that the IDF was gaining the upper hand against Hezbollah, pushing their forces back and destroying lookout posts. In Gaza, the IDF took control of Hamas's Khan Yunis brigade headquarters and announced the death of a soldier. The IDF also evacuated Palestinians, arrested Hamas fighters, and killed terrorists in Khan Yunis, but the search for Israeli hostages continues. Plans to coordinate with Egypt for civilian evacuations from Rafah are underway, as concerns about escalating hostilities in the region persist.
