Israeli army said to kill dozens of militants in Gaza as ground ops continue

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is conducting intensive ground operations in the Gaza Strip, striking numerous targets and neutralizing dozens of militants.

Troops are continuing their mission in the Rafah area in the southern part of the Strip. In the past 24 hours, they discovered hundreds of weapons, including rocket launchers, rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), mines, Kalashnikov rifles, and more, Caliber.Az reports per the IDF press statement.

Units are also active in the Jabalia area in the north of the Strip, where dozens of militants were neutralized in the past day. Fighting is ongoing in central Gaza, with military infrastructure being dismantled and militants being neutralized in that region as well.

The escalation of violence in the region intensified on October 7, 2023, when Hamas, a radical Islamist movement recognized as a terrorist organization by both the European Union and the United States, launched a major offensive against Israel. This assault involved extensive rocket attacks and a ground incursion, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israeli civilians.

Hamas also took over 250 hostages into Gaza; while some have been released or exchanged, others have died, and 97 Israelis remain captive, with at least 30 confirmed deceased.

In response to the attack, Israel declared war on Hamas, leading to military operations in the Gaza Strip that, according to the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry, have resulted in over 42,000 Palestinian deaths.

By Khagan Isayev