Israel’s military said Monday that its forces directed dozens of aerial strikes across the Gaza Strip in the last day. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces, said during a Sunday briefing that forces were engaged in “fierce and difficult battles,” including in Khan Younis, the largest city in southern Gaza, and Shejaiya and Jabalya in the north. “These are Hamas’s strongholds,” Hagari said. Khan Younis is reportedly a stronghold for Yehiya Sinwar, the Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip and a top target for Israel.
IDF fighting in Hamas ‘strongholds’ in north, south Gaza
By Moses Muli
Published Dec.11, 5:55 pm (EAT) courtesy Washington post
Hagari said that in Gaza City, Israeli soldiers took control of the area around Palestine Square, “in the heart” of the city, where he said Sinwar ran his office. Forces uncovered an underground tunnel network stretching from the city’s north to the area around the al-Shifa Hospital complex, he said. Troops also found a Hamas launch site in Jabalya, the IDF said in its Monday update. The Washington Post could not independently verify the claims.
In the Sunday briefing, Hagari also addressed the IDF practice of getting people to undress to prove they are not wearing explosive belts, after images emerged in recent days showing detainees in underwear, some blindfolded and with their hands tied.
Some of those photographed have no connection to Hamas, according to friends, family members and people detained by the IDF, who spoke to The Post after their release.
“Not all of them are members of Hamas or terrorist organizations,” Hagari said, adding that the photos and videos, which have been aired and reported on by Israeli media, were not formally published by the IDF. “This is something we have been doing for years in combat.”
The head of Israel’s National Security Council, Tzachi Hanegbi, suggested Sunday that there were would be no more such photos. “It doesn’t serve anything,” Hanegbi said in an interview with Israel’s Kan Radio. “I think that you won’t be seeing images like this in the future.”
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