The Israeli occupation army acknowledged more deaths among its soldiers during the ground operation in Gaza, and at the same time announced the start of a new attack on camps in the central Gaza Strip, claiming that they constitute major strongholds of the Hamas movement.
On Wednesday morning, the Israeli army acknowledged the killing of 3 soldiers, including an officer, in the ongoing battles in the northern Gaza Strip.
Earlier, the army announced the killing of 5 officers and soldiers, including a company commander in the Nahal Brigade of the elite forces.
It was also announced that 43 others were injured, including 9 seriously, in the battles in the Gaza Strip during the past hours.
According to recent data, the number of deaths among the Israeli army has risen to 170 officers and soldiers who were killed in the ground operation in the Gaza Strip, which began in late October.
As for the total number since the Al-Aqsa Flood operation on October 7, it rose to 498 officers and soldiers.
According to Hebrew reports, the number of Israeli soldiers and settlers killed in the Al-Aqsa flood ranges between 1,200 and 1,500.
Expansion of aggression
In addition, the Israeli army said that it is continuing its military operations in the Gaza Strip by land, air and sea against targets affiliated with the Hamas movement.
He added in a statement that the Air Force raided 100 targets in the southern Gaza Strip, noting that his forces in Jabalia clashed with militants who tried to plant an explosive device near a tank, then one of his fighters targeted the building in which the militants were holed up.
The Israeli army also indicated that its aircraft launched air strikes in Khan Yunis, which resulted in the killing of dozens of Palestinian militants, he said.
The Israeli occupation army said that it began an attack on the camps in the central Gaza Strip, starting from the Bureij camp, under the leadership of the “36th Armored Division.”
The Israeli army claimed that these camps constitute a fortified stronghold for the Hamas movement, according to its description.
According to an army statement, the occupation forces in the Bureij camp found a tunnel opening leading to a large-scale underground path, in addition to finding a Hamas training complex containing many combat means.
The Israeli army added that its forces took operational control of the neighborhoods of Al-Zaytoun, Al-Shuja’iya, Al-Rimal, and Al-Shati Camp in the northern Gaza Strip, which it said constitute a center of gravity and control for Hamas.
Positioning and dredging
Satellite images obtained by Tel Aviv Tribune show a change in the Israeli position in Khan Yunis on December 24.
The blue color shows the positions of the occupation forces’ vehicles on December 19, while the red color shows the change in their position on the 24th of the same month. The yellow color showed new razing of buildings and lands.
The pictures show how the vehicles were positioned north of Khan Yunis, between Al-Sika and Salah al-Din Streets.
Bulldozing appeared in this area from the east and towards the south, which indicates new incursion attempts by removing buildings and bulldozing agricultural land.