The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) significantly escalated counter-terrorism operations throughout the Gaza Strip over the weekend, targeting strategic terror infrastructure and neutralizing hostile operatives in multiple, simultaneous actions. The campaign, conducted under the direction of Israel’s Military Intelligence Directorate, Southern Command, and the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), involved ground and air strikes on approximately 60 terror targets in the past 24 hours, as part of Israel’s continuing war imposed by Iranian-backed Hamas and its affiliates.
In northern Gaza, IDF’s 252nd Division intercepted and eliminated two armed terrorists who approached Israeli positions, representing a direct and imminent threat to the safety of Israeli soldiers and citizens. The 36th Division, stationed in the Rafah area and along the strategic ‘Morag Route,’ destroyed a booby-trapped building that served as an operational hub for several terrorists. IDF sources report that the targeted structure was prepared for ambushes and suicide attacks—a recurring tactic of Hamas, which frequently embeds operatives within civilian environments in violation of international law.
Meanwhile, in southern Gaza, the 143rd Gaza Division undertook complex operations to demolish terror tunnels and weapons caches, neutralizing Hamas’s subterranean capabilities that have enabled the transfer of arms, personnel, and communication within the Strip. These actions hinder the terror group’s ability to plan and execute additional attacks on Israeli civilians and military positions.
IDF air assets, guided by real-time intelligence, conducted precision strikes across Gaza against launch sites, command centers, munitions warehouses, and other critical assets associated with Hamas and other Iranian-backed terror organizations. According to official IDF briefings, the targeted strikes over the past 24 hours were aimed at preventing future hostile actions and advancing broader operational objectives.
This ongoing campaign forms part of Operation Iron Swords, which began following the October 7, 2023, massacre—the deadliest antisemitic attack since the Holocaust—when Hamas launched a coordinated cross-border assault that killed over 1,200 Israelis and resulted in mass kidnappings, sexual violence, and other atrocities. Israel’s stated objectives remain the elimination of terror infrastructure, the restoration of security for Israeli citizens, and the return of hostages abducted during the attack.
Throughout the current phase of operations, Israeli officials have emphasized the steps taken to minimize civilian casualties, despite the persistence of terror organizations in utilizing residential areas for military operations. Military spokespeople and independent experts have highlighted substantial evidence that terror operatives continue to store weapons and launch attacks from within protected civilian infrastructure, deepening the humanitarian challenges faced by residents of Gaza.
While Israeli ground advances and air strikes persist, diplomatic efforts continue to address the broader regional threat posed by Iran and its network of proxies, including Hamas, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and other paramilitary groups in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. The Israeli government has reiterated its commitment to international law and the distinction between combatants and noncombatants, contrasting its treatment of hostages with the status of convicted terrorists released in negotiated exchanges.
The United States and multiple European governments have reaffirmed Israel’s right to defend itself, while also pressing for expanded humanitarian access and urgent release of hostages. Meanwhile, Israeli authorities have facilitated humanitarian aid to Gaza residents, but continue to accuse Hamas of diverting resources meant for civilians to bolster its warfighting capabilities.
As Israel confronts ongoing threats from the north and across the region, defense and intelligence agencies have signaled that operations in Gaza are likely to intensify further. The protracted conflict reflects the deep entrenchment of Iranian-backed terror groups in Gaza and their strategic use of the territory as a base for ongoing hostilities aimed at undermining Israeli sovereignty and endangering civilian lives.
With hostilities ongoing, the coming days are expected to bring continued updates on operational achievements, the evolving security situation, and the broader implications for the Middle East as Israel pursues the dismantling of terror networks and the safe return of its abducted citizens.
