WATCH: The IDF soldiers who brought 18 hostages home
Take a deep dive into Israel’s Yahalom unit, which bravely entered Gaza’s deadly tunnels to recover 18 hostages and bring closure to grieving families.
Take a deep dive into Israel’s Yahalom unit, which bravely entered Gaza’s deadly tunnels to recover 18 hostages and bring closure to grieving families.
Hamas terrorists were exposed staging a fake recovery operation—digging up a hostage’s body they had buried earlier, then summoning the Red Cross to falsely claim it had just been found.
IDF soldiers have worked tirelessly to bring home the 251 hostages taken from their families on October 7, losing 915 soldiers, including those killed in the massacre.
Troops are on high alert for assaults all along the new border line, and are actively searching for and destroying tunnels as they are found.
The deaths of Kula and Yavetz mark another blow to the Nahal Brigade, which has been engaged in some of the war’s most difficult combat.
Military sources say the campaign would combine aerial bombardments, targeted ground incursions, and coordination with international partners to stabilize the area once fighting ends.
Defrin also called on Gaza residents to avoid entering areas under IDF operational control, urging them to honor the agreement and prioritize their own safety.
In a report by Ha’aretz, earlier this year the IDF, estimated that its operations since 2023 had only succeeded in destroying about one quarter of the entire tunnel network.
The initial plan includes staged care—beginning with the first 24 hours and extending to long-term follow-up—without any fixed end date.
The veterans emphasized the personal cost of the conflict, saying they ‘cannot remain silent’ in light of the ‘heavy prices’ they and their fallen comrades had paid while defending Israel.
During a sweep of a multi-story building in that city, a UAV identified a booby-trapped explosive hidden under a blanket on the sixth floor.
In recent weeks, Israeli troops in Gaza have neutralized dozens of terrorists, exposed weapons caches and tunnel networks concealed in civilian zones.
In the northern Gaza Strip, troops dismantled above-ground and below-ground terrorist infrastructure, including an ambush post where an explosive device was found.
In the southern Gaza Strip, IDF troops continue advancing in the Khan Yunis and Rafah areas, eliminating terrorists who posed a threat and destroying dozens of Hamas assets.
Roadside bombs remain the signature threat to convoys in dense Gaza streets.
The IDF announced the launch of its ground offensive on Gaza City, with fighter jets striking hundreds of targets, tanks bombarding Hamas positions, and ground forces beginning targeted raids.
Defrin emphasized that while Israel is opening corridors such as the Rashid route to allow civilians safe passage, Hamas is obstructing them.
Five divisions are expected to take part in the push to deliver a decisive blow against the terrorists.
The eliminated terrorists held key positions within the organization, representing a significant blow to its command structure and operational capabilities.
Over the past weeks, IDF and Shin Bet forces have carried out coordinated operations in Beit Hanoun, striking tunnels and underground routes to eliminate the last remaining terrorists.
