Israeli Air Force targets five Palestinian towns in Gaza, West Bank

Israeli Air Force fighter jets have conducted strikes on five Palestinian settlements in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Targets included Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, as well as Qarawat Bani Zeid and Kafr Ein near Ramallah, Baqa al-Hatab east of Qalqilya, and Azun west of Nablus, Caliber.Az reports citing the foreign media.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that Israeli troops have killed nearly 45 armed Palestinian militants in Gaza. Approximately 20 militants were killed in central Gaza during close-quarters combat and airstrikes, while another 25 were eliminated in raids in the southern city of Rafah.

The Israeli forces have eliminated Mohammed Mahasneh, a commander of Hamas' military wing. According to the Israeli military, Mahasneh was involved in smuggling operations, including weapons, primarily via sea routes as well as through tunnels and border crossings. The IDF stated that his removal significantly impairs Hamas' ability to smuggle equipment into the Gaza Strip.