Israeli army: 900 terrorists killed in Rafah
Israeli forces plan to destroy Hamas infrastructure following intense battles in Rafah, according to the army's own statements. During the offensive in Rafah, the military claims to have killed over 900 terrorists, including at least one battalion commander, many company commanders, and numerous fighters, as per General Staff Chief Herzi Halevi during a troops visit at Kerem Shalom crossing.
"We are now focusing on destroying the terrorist infrastructure, which takes time," Halevi said. "We will not leave Rafah with an intact terrorist infrastructure." In the next phase, the Israeli military will change its tactics, Halevi announced. The goal is to wear down the enemy and complete the mission. "We need determination, patience, and endurance. The results will speak for themselves in the future," Halevi added.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously hinted that the larger Hamas combat formations in southern Gaza would soon be destroyed. This might mark the end of the large-scale ground offensive in the sealed coastal strip. However, this would not necessarily mean an end to the military operation. Netanyahu and high-ranking military officials have already hinted that Israeli troops would remain in strategic locations in the Gaza Strip after the intense fighting phase.
At least 31 people have reportedly been killed in Israeli attacks on targets in the Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian sources. Seventeen Palestinians were reportedly killed in Gaza City alone, as per medical sources. These reports could not be independently verified at first. Eight people were reportedly killed in southern Gaza.
The Israeli military had previously announced that they had targeted sites in the Gaza Strip in response to rocket fire on Israeli communities. Residents of eastern neighborhoods in the city of Khan Younis were reportedly evacuated beforehand. The terrorist organization Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack on Israeli border installations with around 20 rockets. The fighting continued elsewhere in the Gaza Strip, according to the army's own reports. The military reported the deaths of two soldiers in action and one soldier being seriously injured.
According to the Hamas-controlled health authority, nearly 38,000 people have been killed and over 87,000 others injured in the Gaza Strip since the conflict began. These unverifiable reports do not distinguish between civilians and fighters. The conflict was triggered by the unprecedented massacre committed by Hamas and other terrorists in Israel on October 7, which left over 1,200 people dead.
- Despite the reported killing of over 900 Hamas terrorists during the Israel war in Rafah, Hamas continues to report casualties, with at least 31 deaths in recent attacks in the Gaza Strip.
- The Israel war in Gaza Strip has resulted in significant casualties, with the Hamas-controlled health authority reporting nearly 38,000 deaths and over 87,000 injuries since the conflict began, although these numbers do not distinguish between civilians and fighters.
- The Israeli military's focus in the Gaza Strip has shifted from direct combat to destroying Hamas infrastructure, as announced by General Staff Chief Herzi Halevi, in a bid to wear down the enemy and complete the mission.
