Click to see full-size image. (Israeli Defense Forces)
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced on August 2 that it had completely defeated the Beit Hanoun battalion of Hamas after the last three of the group’s fighters surrendered in the northern Gaza Strip town.
In a statement, the military said that the three fighters emerged from a tunnel and surrendered to its troops in Beit Hanoun.
The fighters told the Israeli troops they had sought to flee the area after another fighter with them was killed during a previous exchange of fire, the military added, noting that the fighters led the troops to a weapons depot near the tunnel from which they emerged, where numerous weapons and equipment were found.
The IDF said the three fighters were taken for further interrogation, the weapons were seized, and combat engineers are mapping out the tunnel ahead of its demolition.
“The Beit Hanoun Battalion, which posed a threat to Nir Am and Sderot, has surrendered and been defeated by Givati Brigade troops,” the military said.
Commenting on the IDF’s announcement, Defense Minister Israel Katz said on X: “Hamas terrorists are surrendering in Beit Hanoun. They are emerging from the burrows into the destroyed city.”
“The IDF is destroying both the above and the underground [infrastructure] to defend the city of Sderot,” the minister added.
The commander of the IDF’s Givati Brigade operating in Beit Hanoun told reporters last week that there were just four or five remaining gunmen in the area.
The IDF’s announcement is questionable, especially considering that this is the fifth time Israeli troops have stormed Beit Hanoun since the outbreak of the war in Gaza. In addition, the military itself admits that many of the town’s battalion fled, including its commander Hussein Fayyad. Earlier this year, the IDF falsely claimed that Fayyad was killed and later acknowledged that he was still alive.
The announcement came as the Israeli government is facing more pressure over the war in Gaza, both internally from the families of the remaining hostages and internationally over the widespread hunger and deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Strip.
Despite losing four soldiers over the past week, Israel recently threatened Hamas with punitive measures, including annexing parts of Gaza, if it does not accept a proposed ceasefire and hostage deal. So far, the group has very much ignored the threat.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence
NOW hosted at southfront.press
Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org.
The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation
Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com
