Israel Pounds Hamas Strongholds Throughout Gaza

Israel's Defense Forces (IDF) have significantly increased the scope and intensity of combat and bombardment across several zones in Gaza, including Gaza City itself, central refugee camps, and Khan Younis.

Palestinian sources report dozens of casualties following the IDF’s strikes as The Saudi Al Hadath channel cites some 131 fatalities within the past 24 hours in Gaza.

The operation commenced last night and and continued overnight. Its primary aim is to dismantle Hamas’s defensive lines and degradation capabilities within Gaza City and surrounding central camps. Forces are also targeting strategic positions in Khan Younis.

In Sajaiya, IDF commando units engaged militants armed with anti-tank rockets. Sergeant Yaniv Michalovitch, aged 19 from Rehovot (82nd Brigade, 7th Armored Division), was killed in action, with five more soldiers wounded. An IDF engineering vehicle was also struck while covering the rescue team.

Encirclement and Ground Offensive Preparation

The IDF is working to complete a full encirclement of key areas before launching ground operations aimed at neutralizing any remaining Hamas members. The strikes in the past 24 hours have included:

Targeted Eliminations

Israeli air and intelligence units eliminated two Hamas operatives, Mustafa Yasser Abdullah Galban and Abdul Latif Musa Hajjaj, in Khan Younis.

Both were implicated in the killing of seven Israeli combat engineers, including Sgt. Matan Shai Yashinovsky and others.

IDF forces under Southern Command, supported by military intelligence and domestic security services, continue targeting terror infrastructure across northern and southern Gaza. These operations include destroying weapon caches, underground networks, and combat positions.

Scale of the Campaign

Over the last day, the Israeli Air Force struck approximately 150 targets across Gaza. These included operatives, military buildings, weapons storage sites, sniper nests, tunnel systems, and other terror-related infrastructure.

Israel has made it clear that this round of operations is part of a broader strategy aimed at dismantling Hamas's military capabilities and securing long-term operational control in Gaza.

Humanitarian concerns are acknowledged amid ongoing combat, but military objectives appear to take precedence at this stage.