Day 134: Large-scale IDF op in Khan Younis Hospital continues with 100 terrorists arrested; Hamas to suspend hostage talks – demands more aid

Israel Defense Forces over the weekend continued the large-scale operation at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis that began on Thursday. Hamas terrorists launched rockets at the Israeli city of Ashkelon on Saturday, and Hamas officials indicated that it would suspend negotiations over a new release hostage deal.

Hamas sources told the Qatari state-owned news outlet Al Jazeera that the terror group would suspend ongoing negotiations with Israel until additional humanitarian aid is brought into the northern Gaza Strip.

The IDF had begun a “precise and limited” operation, searching the premises of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, after receiving “credible intelligence” that Hamas was holding hostages there, according to a statement by IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Daniel Hagari on Thursday.

On Saturday, the IDF stated that its forces from the Commando Brigade, the Shayetet 13 Naval Commandos, and special units of the 98th Division had already arrested about 100 terrorists during the operation.

More than 20 terrorists who participated in the Oct. 7 massacre were apprehended by Friday, and dozens of other suspects have been taken for questioning.

While securing the operation, soldiers of the Maglan and Egoz Commando units also eliminated numerous terrorists in the surrounding areas.

In other areas of Khan Younis, which continues to be the main focus of fighting in the Strip, soldiers of the 7th Brigade battlegroup raided several Hamas targets and located combat equipment, including explosives, grenades, and Kalashnikov rifles.

In addition, the forces cooperated with their divisional fire center to identify two terrorists who moving toward them on a motorcycle and directed an aircraft to eliminate them.

During intense clashes with terrorists in the area, the IDF’s Paratroopers battlegroup eliminated a Hamas squad at close range.

In central Gaza, the Nahal Brigade continued its operations and eliminated a number of terrorists during the past 24 hours

In one incident, the brigade's fire center identified two Hamas terrorists and in a short time, directed a fighter jet to attack and eliminate the threat.

The IDF announced that fighter jets carried out airstrikes against several Hamas targets in central Gaza on Saturday evening. Several operational headquarters near Nuseirat and Deir al-Balah camps were struck as a result of the activity.

הבוקר, הופעלה התרעה במרחב העיר אשקלון בעקבות שיגור שזוהה משטח רצועת עזה, לוחמי ההגנה האווירית יירטו את השיגור בהצלחה.

בתוך פחות מ-30 דקות, בשיתוף פעולה של מכלול האש של חטיבת הנח"ל וחטיבת האש 215 של אוגדה 162, זוהה המחבל שביצע את השיגור, במרחב אל-פורקאן שבצפון הרצועה>> pic.twitter.com/KNUL8tFoYk

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) February 17, 2024

Last week saw at least four instances of rocket fire toward the Israeli city of Ashkelon from the Gaza Strip after the rocket fire had greatly decreased with the advance of the Israeli ground forces.

Saturday’s launch at the area saw one rocket being intercepted by the IDF aerial defense system,  with no injuries reported.

The IDF stated that the terrorist who carried out the launch was eliminated within 30 minutes by an airstrike near al-Furqan in northern Gaza.