Day 57: IDF continues operations, strikes more than 400 terror targets throughout Gaza Strip

Following Hamas' violation of the temporary ceasefire by shooting rockets into Israel, IDF troops renewed military operations in Gaza.

Over the last day, Israeli fighter jets struck more than 400 terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip, according to an IDF statement on Saturday.

IDF soldiers of the 551st Brigade eliminated terror infrastructure and Hamas operatives in the Beit Lahia area, in northern Gaza, with tank fire and directed airstrikes.

Yesterday, Hamas violated the operational pause, and in response, the IDF resumed combat.

These are the latest IDF operational updates:

🔺Struck a total of over 400 terrorist targets in Gaza

🔺Struck over 50 targets in the area of Khan Yunis

🔺IAF fighter jets struck an…

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) December 2, 2023

During the ground operations in northern Gaza, the 261st Reserve Brigade found boxes with UNRWA markings in a crowded residential neighborhood, which Hamas had used for storing weapons and other terror equipment, including 30 Grad rockets and dozens of other types of rockets, all in all securing 110 projectiles.

In addition, during searches in the same area, soldiers of the combat reconnaissance 414th Battalion found grenades and explosive charges, weapon parts, knives, vests, and intelligence equipment.

In the Khan Younes area in the southern Gaza Strip, expected to be next target of the next phase of Israeli ground operations, Air Force fighter jets also attacked more than 50 targets in an extensive attack overnight.

Also during the night, Israeli naval forces carried out a targeted operational activity in the south of the Gaza Strip, in the Khan Younes port and in Deir al-Balah, carrying out precision strikes against military targets and infrastructure and equipment used by Hamas’ naval force.

With the Israeli forces expected to extend their ground operation into the southern Gaza Strip, Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Saturday commented on the army’s activity there.

“For the last two days, we have been operating in areas where we did not operate in the last month. This action will reach every area that needs to be reached. We will have to do it while adapting to the special conditions of the area, there will be massive and accurate fire. The [Hamas] commanders in Khan Younes and Rafah understand what happened to their counterparts in the north of the Gaza Strip.”