Israel hits numerous naval, civilian targets in Gaza Fierce battles keep claiming thousands of lives

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) Air Force has attacked more than 200 targets in the Al-Furqan area, where Hamas facilities are located.

Dozens of IDF fighter jets were deployed to carry out the strikes, according to NEWSru.co.il.

This is the third attack on the Al-Furqan area in the past 24 hours, with a total of more than 450 targets attacked in the three attacks.

The IDF press service also described the area as a "Hamas terrorist nest".

In addition, the Israeli army said it has struck Palestinian Hamas naval facilities used for attacks on the Israeli coast. The military also killed a diver attempting to infiltrate into Israel.

"Hamas naval facilities, including the Khan Younis and Gaza docks, used by the terrorist organisation to carry out terror attacks on the Israeli coast, were struck in the past hours. The docks were subjected to artillery fire from missile boats, helicopters and ground artillery batteries," the army said in a press release.

Other areas hit by the IDF included branches of banks used by Hamas, as well as the headquarters of the commander of the movement's northern brigade in the Gaza Strip.

According to IDF, Israeli fighter jets struck more than 80 targets in Beit Hanoun in the Gaza Strip overnight, including two bank branches used by Hamas to finance terrorism.

In addition, the IDF targeted operational command centres of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, as well as the latter's base, which was allegedly located in a mosque.

The Israeli military also said it destroyed an aircraft tracking station in the Gaza Strip.

"Israel Defence Forces [IDF] aircraft destroyed advanced systems developed by Hamas that were used to detect aircraft over the Gaza Strip," the report said.

The IDF added that Hamas had equipped virtually the entire Gaza Strip with cameras before its raid and the start of another war between Palestine and Israel.

Amid fierce battles between the IDF and Hamas, Israel has concentrated about 300,000 troops, armoured vehicles, and artillery on the border with the Gaza Strip, the former IDF spokesman Jonathan Conricus said.

“We sent our infantry, armoured, artillery troops to the areas adjacent to the Gaza Strip, and many other soldiers from the reserve were sent to various brigades and divisions with a total number of 300,000 people,” he said in his video message on the social network X (formerly Twitter).

According to the official, "they are now near the Gaza Strip, preparing to carry out an order - a mission entrusted to us by the Israeli government".

“This is to ensure that Hamas at the end of this war will not have any military capabilities with which it can threaten or kill Israeli civilians,” he added.

As the Al-Jazeera TV channel reported, the mobilization campaign continues in the southern regions of Israel, and more and more military personnel, reservists, and heavy military equipment are arriving there.

The report noted that "people here believe a ground invasion of Gaza will happen almost any day now," although it has not been officially announced.

Furthermore, the IDF ex-spokesman noted in his address that at least 1,200 Israelis were killed and more than 2,700 were injured due to the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East by the radical Palestinian movement Hamas.

"At least 1,200 Israelis have been killed, the vast majority of them civilians. And more than 2,700 are wounded," Conricus said.

According to a report by the Gaza Strip Health Ministry, in addition to the elimination of at least 1,500 Hamas militants on Israeli territory, more than 920 Palestinians were killed by the Israeli army and some 4,650 others were wounded.

Moreover, the Israeli army has also killed at least 1,000 militants who infiltrated the Gaza Strip since 7 October.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) announced that about 150,000 residents of the Gaza Strip were forced to leave their homes.

It also became known that the first US aircraft with ammunition for the Israeli army arrived in Israel on the night to October 11.

"The first aircraft loaded with US ammunition landed in Israel. The aircraft carrying advanced ammunition landed overnight at the Nevatim base. The munitions are intended for significant strikes and preparation for additional scenarios," the report said.