TEL AVIV—The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have conducted widespread and coordinated military operations across the Gaza Strip in the past 24 hours, focusing on the destruction of terror infrastructure and targeting active Hamas elements. This latest phase in Israel’s ongoing self-defense campaign marks a key escalation in efforts to neutralize the capabilities of Iranian-backed networks that continue to threaten the State of Israel and its civilian population.
According to official statements, IDF ground and air units—with support from the Intelligence Directorate, Southern Command, and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet)— executed a series of precision strikes throughout both northern and southern Gaza. Over 40 Hamas military targets, including weapons depots, tunnel access points, and command centers, were destroyed. These operations are a core component of Operation Iron Swords, which Israel launched in the wake of the October 7, 2023, massacre perpetrated by Hamas. The IDF aims to systematically dismantle the terror group’s military infrastructure and re-establish civilian security on Israel’s southern border.
IDF ground forces pressed into the Rafah neighborhoods of Shaboura and Tel Sultan, carrying out targeted raids that led to the elimination of armed operatives and the destruction of critical underground structures. Simultaneously, in northern Gaza, the 252nd Division located and demolished hidden weapons stockpiles and engaged hostile fighters identified through advanced surveillance. Air force units provided constant support, deploying precision-guided munitions on locations used by terror groups to stage attacks and store munitions.
Military spokesmen emphasized the importance of intelligence-driven targeting in these operations, highlighting the integration of real-time reconnaissance to mitigate civilian casualties. The IDF maintained that despite Hamas’s systematic placement of military assets within residential areas, Israeli forces continue to issue evacuation warnings and employ advanced strike mechanisms to avoid harm to noncombatants. Officials reiterated that Hamas’s longstanding policy of using Gaza’s civilian population as human shields remains a major obstacle in minimizing collateral damage.
The latest operations follow an intensified period of conflict that began with the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack from Gaza—the deadliest antisemitic massacre since the Holocaust. On that day, Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israeli communities, killing 1,200 people, abusing and mutilating civilians, and abducting more than 250 innocents. In the aftermath, Israel declared national mobilization and expanded military campaigns across all fronts of Iranian-backed aggression, including countering cross-border threats from Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iraq.
Background: Roots and Regional Dimensions
Since its seizure of Gaza in 2007, Hamas has transformed the territory into a hub of Iranian-funded terror activities, constructing an extensive network of tunnels, weapons factories, and command bunkers under civilian infrastructure. Its ongoing rocket assaults and terror incursions have forced Israel to develop robust defensive measures, including the Iron Dome anti-missile system and advanced surveillance capabilities. However, the events of October 7 shattered any illusions of sustainable deterrence, forcing Israel to adopt a new doctrine aimed at fundamentally degrading Hamas’s ability to wage war.
The IDF’s current operations are informed by the recognition that Hamas is not an isolated actor, but a primary node in Iran’s “Axis of Resistance.” This strategic network encompasses terror organizations such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and Iranian-directed militias in Syria and Iraq. Israel’s leadership—Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Defense Israel Katz—emphasizes that the conflict in Gaza cannot be detached from the broader regional contest with Iran, whose ideological and material support enables sustained aggression against the Jewish State.
International Reactions and Humanitarian Considerations
While Israel has received critical backing for its right to self-defense from allies, notably the United States under President Donald Trump, some international organizations express concern about the humanitarian impact of the operations in Gaza. Israel points out that, in addition to direct military action, it has facilitated the transfer of humanitarian aid and maintained evacuation corridors, despite persistent efforts by Hamas to block civilian movement and co-opt humanitarian assets for terrorist use.
Israeli officials stress their commitment to facilitating medical and food supplies through crossings such as Kerem Shalom. They argue that the ultimate source of civilian suffering is the terror group’s practice of embedding itself among Gaza’s civilian population, and that peace and stability can only be assured through the dismantlement of this threat.
Hostage Crisis at the Forefront
Central to Israel’s campaign is the fate of hostages abducted on October 7. Israeli authorities continue to demand their unconditional release, contrasting the status of these innocent civilians with that of convicted terrorists whom Israel has occasionally released as part of past negotiated deals. This distinction, grounded in international law and moral clarity, is emphasized by Israeli leaders and underpins ongoing diplomatic and intelligence efforts to secure the hostages’ freedom.
Challenges of Urban Warfare
Urban combat against Hamas presents complex dilemmas for the IDF, as terrorists use schools, hospitals, and mosques as shields for their operations. Israeli intelligence, corroborated by independent observers, has documented tunnel shafts under civilian buildings and the use of ambulances for transport of arms and fighters. Despite these tactics, the IDF adopts procedures that exceed customary requirements under the laws of war, including pre-strike warnings and verification of target legitimacy.
Regional and Diplomatic Implications
Israel’s efforts in Gaza reverberate across the Middle East, sending a strong message to Tehran and its proxies that terror incursions will meet overwhelming response. The Abraham Accords and subsequent security arrangements with Egypt and Gulf states have created new frameworks for intelligence-sharing and counterterrorism cooperation. The IDF campaign’s outcome is likely to shape regional calculations about deterrence, normalization, and future prospects for peace.
Future Post-Conflict Arrangements
Looking ahead, Israeli officials are working with international partners to prepare for post-conflict stabilization and reconstruction. The government insists that any future arrangement in Gaza must guarantee demilitarization and prevent the re-emergence of terror control. Humanitarian agencies, with Israeli coordination, are preparing plans to rebuild damaged environments and provide support for civilians, while strictly excluding organizations linked to the Iranian-backed terror apparatus.
Conclusion
The intensified IDF operations in Gaza are part of a broad campaign to defend Israel against a hostile network of Iranian-backed terror organizations. Through a combination of precision military action, intelligence integration, and humanitarian considerations, Israel seeks to degrade the threat posed by Hamas and secure its borders. As international attention remains focused on the conflict, the Israeli government reiterates that the path to lasting peace and regional stability lies in confronting and dismantling the infrastructure of terror—not in temporary ceasefires or external pressure for premature solutions. The future security of the region will be defined by the outcome of this ongoing struggle.
