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IDF Announces Advance In Gaza As Rockets Hit Tel Aviv (Videos)

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IDF Announces Advance In Gaza As Rockets Hit Tel Aviv (Videos)

Click to see full-size image. (The Israeli Defense Forces)

On December 21, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced that it had established full “operational control” over Gaza City’s Shejaiya neighborhood.

In a statement, the IDF SAID the 36th Division has completed dismantling the “core capabilities” of the Hamas Movement in Shejaiya. It added troops will continue to carry out limited operations in the neighborhood to destroy the remaining Hamas infrastructure and kill any fighters still hiding.

During the fighting in Shejaiya, Israeli troops encountered and killed many Hamas fighters who opened fire and set off explosives, according to the IDF, which also said that dozens of tunnel shafts and caches of weapons were destroyed.

The IDF also said that troops of the Golani Brigade raided the homes of senior Hamas members and seized intelligence materials in Shejaiya, and the 188th Armored Brigade captured the headquarters of Hamas’s Shejaiya battalion.

Additionally, the Paratroopers Brigade demolished more than 100 buildings used by Hamas in the area, located dozens of tunnel shafts, and arrested many fighters who had surrendered, among them a Hamas company commander.

The Bislamach Brigade also demolished a number of buildings in the neighborhood which were used by Hamas, according to the IDF.

In a separate statement, the IDF announced that it had expanded its ground operations in central Gaza, with the 99th Division carrying out an operation in areas south of Gaza City.

According to the IDF, the 99th Division maneuvered into new areas of central Gaza, to establish “operational control” between Gaza City and refugee camps in the central.

The IDF also said that the division’s 179th Reserve Armored Brigade and 646th Reserve Paratroopers Brigade killed members of Hamas’s Nuseirat battalion and destroyed infrastructure, including tunnels and weapon depots.

Amid the operation, the IDF said an airstrike was carried out against a Hamas cell firing rocket-propelled grenades from a municipal building.

Meanwhile, the division’s Yiftah Brigade continued working to clear the western neighborhoods of Gaza City of Hamas infrastructure, the IDF said. During their operations, the troops found several weapons which were later destroyed by combat engineers.

The reports of Israeli advance in northern and central Gaza coincided with a large-scale rocket attack on Tel Aviv City and nearby areas in central Israel. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack. Hebrew media said 30 rockets were fired at the city. The attack resulted in damage. However, no casualties were reported.

Hamas’ military wing, Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, announced several other attacks against the IDF in Gaza. Two main battle tanks were allegedly blown up and snipers targeted at least three troops in different parts of the Strip.

Overall, the IDF appears to be preparing to further expand its ground operations in Gaza. The ongoing talks with Hamas on a new temporary ceasefire are yet to produce an agreement. The next few weeks will be critical for sure.

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