Click to see full-size image. (The Israeli Defense Forces)
On November 15, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced that its 14th Armored Reserve Brigade had captured a key outpost of the Hamas Movement in the northern Gaza Strip.
The compound, known as the Palestine Outpost, was used by Hamas as a training site to prepare for attacks against Israel.
“Although it was disguised as just a training facility, terrorists set out from the outpost for terror activities,” the IDF said in a statement.
The 14th Armored Reserve Brigade, along with air support and artillery, battled Hamas for control of the outpost, the IDF said, adding that its troops found tunnel shafts, explosive devices and mines after capturing the outpost.
According to the IDF, the 14th Armored Reserve Brigade killed dozens of Hamas fighters and destroyed dozens of anti-tank missile and rocket launch sites, observation posts and other infrastructure during its operations in northern Gaza.
This was not the IDF’s only operation in northern Gaza during the day. In the early morning, Israeli troops stormed al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, where thousands of civilians, including medical staff and patients, have been trapped for the last few weeks.
Separately, the IDF demolished the parliament building in Gaza City, which was captured by the Golani Brigade earlier this week.
Israeli troops took losses during their recent operations in northern Gaza. Hamas’ military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, said that its fighters had targeted four main battle tanks, an armored personnel carrier and an armored bulldozer with rocket-propelled grenades in the western, southwestern and northwestern outskirts of Gaza City. Several gatherings of the IDF were also targeted with rockets and mortars.
From its side, the al-Quds Brigade, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, said that its fighters had shot down a Skylark reconnaissance drone of the IDF and targeted two Israeli gatherings in northern Gaza.
In addition, several rocket attacks targeted Israeli settlements near Gaza. Sirens were sounded in Ashkelon, Sderot, Nir Am and Ibim. Damage was reported in Ashkelon. However, there were no casualties in any of the targeted areas.
As the IDF advances deeper into Gaza reports about a near deal between Israel and Hamas are increasing. Qatar is reportedly making efforts to secure the release of some of the civilian hostages being held in the Strip in exchange for the release of some Palestinian prisoners and a three-day ceasefire.
