Israel gears up to receive hostages, release Palestinian prisoners
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 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.
In preparation for receiving displaced residents in southern Gaza, the IDF is expanding Crossing 147 to increase the flow of aid into the designated humanitarian area.
Israeli forces continue to strike Hamas targets in the Gaza City area ahead of the ground invasion, with the IDF stating on Wednesday that more than 360 targets were attacked by dozens of aircraft in three waves.
The army is continuing to investigate the incident, as during a dawn alert, the troops are supposed to be at peak alertness and vigilance, specifically on the lookout against such an attack.
Residents can use the hotline to report roadblocks or threats from the terror group aimed at stopping civilians from fleeing to safety.
The IDF has ramped up its Gaza offensive with targeted strikes on high-rises used as Hamas command hubs, now controlling 40% of Gaza City and pushing forward to dismantle the group’s urban strongholds.
With regard to the military offensive in the Strip, Netanyahu noted that around 100,000 Palestinians have left Gaza City thus far.
Before the war, drone use was largely limited to the air force or assigned at the battalion level, serving groups of roughly 250 soldiers.
Only by seizing the ground, officials argued, can Israel properly remove the threat, create the conditions for a new reality in Gaza, and generate the leverage needed to secure the return of the hostages.
