Click to see full-size image. (The Israeli Defense Forces)
Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari announced on December 19 that an additional brigade was deployed in the southern Gaza Strip to develop ground operations in the city of Khan Yunis.
“In southern Gaza, in the Khan Younis area, we are expanding our operations, and deepening it. We added a full brigade and additional combat engineering forces for operations in the area, to improve our operations,” Hagari said.
The deployment came amid intense strikes on Khan Yunis and other parts of Gaza. The IDF said on December 20 that more than 300 targets in the Strip were struck overnight.
Some of the strikes were directed by ground forces against Hamas fighters amid battles, the IDF said, noting that recent Air Force and Navy strikes killed dozens of fighters in Gaza and destroyed infrastructure belonging to the ruling Hamas Movement.
In its most recent update, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza said that the death toll in the Strip from Israeli attacks has exceeded 19,667 Palestinians, with most of the victims being women and children. More than 52,586 others have been wounded.
From its side, the IDF announced the death of four soldiers over the past 24 hours. The latest casualties have brought the number of Israeli troops killed since the start of ground operations in Gaza to 133, according to Hebrew media. More than 600 others have been wounded, so far.
Despite the recent escalation by Israel, an advance in talks with Hamas on a new ceasefire and a prisoner exchange was reported.
A new deal between the warring sides will see a week-long ceasefire with the release of around 40 Israeli hostages from Gaza, including all the remaining women and elderly, in exchange for an unknown number of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, according to several news sources.
