Israel’s military on Tuesday said its troops had entered the “heart of Gaza” and trapped senior Hamas leaders there in an underground bunker.
Yahya Sinwar, 61 – dubbed Israel’s most wanted man and dubbed “the walking dead” by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin – masterminded the October 7 terrorist massacre in Israel that killed more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians, Israeli officials said.
“[Israel Defense Forces] … coming from the north and the south. They stormed it with full coordination between ground, air and sea forces,” Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said, referring to the ground invasion, on Tuesday.
“They are moving on foot, armored vehicles and tanks, together with military engineers from all directions, and they have one target – Hamas terrorists,” he said.
Israeli officials say Sinwa is now isolated inside a fortress, with IDF soldiers determined to destroy it along with any terrorist-run infrastructure.
“They’re tightening the knot around Gaza City,” Gallant boasted of the Israeli army.
Israeli tanks and troops have stormed Gaza as the IDF vows to destroy Hamas. Israel Defense Forces/AFP via Getty Images IDF troops move through a demolished Gaza neighborhood Tuesday. via REUTERS
Netanyahu touted the IDF’s latest advances, saying his forces had destroyed Hamas.
Israeli soldiers have killed “thousands of terrorists above and below ground” in the Gaza Strip as the IDF attacked Hamas’ 300-mile labyrinth of underground tunnels, the PM said in Tuesday’s inaugural address.
“To the south, the war in the Peninsula is going on with a strength that Hamas has never known,” Netanyahu said. “Since the beginning of the ground operation, we have destroyed many Hamas headquarters, tunnels, bases and facilities.
“We reached a place that Hamas never thought we would reach.”
He said Gaza City was now effectively “surrounded” and that the IDF was “deepening the pressure on Hamas every hour, every day,” the Times of Israel reported.
Palestinians wave a white flag of surrender in northern Gaza as Israeli troops approach. via REUTERS
The tunnel is said to also lie beneath Gaza City’s largest medical center, Al Shifa Hospital, where Israel accuses Hamas of sheltering several underground hubs used by the Hamas leadership.
Although Hamas has not commented on the Sinwar situation, the terrorists claimed they also killed and wounded advancing IDF soldiers.
Neither Israel nor Hamas’ claims could be independently verified as the war reached new heights deep inside Gaza, where more than 2 million Palestinians live.
Israel has vowed to eliminate terrorists after Hamas launched its deadly surprise attack.
IDF tanks were used to take out Hamas and its tunnel system in Gaza. via REUTERS
Since launching the war, Israeli counter-airstrikes have killed more than 10,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, health officials linked to Hamas said.
Despite the loss of life and uncertainty over the status of hostages taken by Hamas, Netanyahu said “Operation Iron Sword” will continue until Hamas is gone.
“Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel,” he said. “I say with certainty: Out of darkness and pain we will come out stronger, fairer and more united.
“Together, we will fight and, with God’s help, together we will win.”
With Postal wire
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
