Israeli army moving into eastern Gaza as second stage of operation - minister
SECURITY: ISRAEL-PALESTINE-GAZA-EAST-1
/Updates with more details/
TEL AVIV, November 18. /TASS/. Within the recently launched second stage of Israel’s ground operation in the Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has advanced into the enclave’s eastern area, hitting hard the militias affiliated with the radical Palestinian organization Hamas, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said.
"In recent days, we have gone on to the second stage of maneuvers in the Gaza Strip. The IDF is staying in the western area, but now they are also advancing in the east, and these results are quite evident. Hamas has suffered heavy blows, they are losing command centers, tunnels, bunkers, their commanders at all levels have been hit, and hundreds and thousands of terrorists have been killed in recent days and weeks," he said during a press conference.
Gallant stressed that the IDF "is reaching for all locations sensitive to Hamas."
Tensions flared up in the Middle East after Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip attacked Israeli territory on October 7, when many Israelis living in the settlements near the border were killed and more than 200 people, including children, women and the elderly, were taken hostage. Hamas views its attack as a response to Israeli authorities’ steps against the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Israel declared a total blockade of the Gaza Strip and launched bombardments of the enclave and some areas in Lebanon and Syria. Clashes are also reported in the West Bank.
ТАСС 18.11.2023, 23:49 MSK