Day 83: IDF forces find and destroy tunnels, seize weapons in northern Gaza Strip
Mopping-up operations continue in northern Gaza
Israel Defense Forces ground troops continue to encounter sporadic resistance from Hamas fighters during ground operations in the northern part of Gaza - in the neighborhood of Daraj Tuffah in Gaza City.
RPGs were launched toward an IDF vehicle, leading troops to investigate the building where the launches took place. They discovered terror infrastructure, which was destroyed.
The Israeli Air Force (IAF) hit an anti-tank missile launch site manned by Hamas terrorists after ground forces called in the airstrike.
After coming under fire from a different building, IDF troops searched the site and discovered dozens of weapons.
On Wednesday evening, the IDF announced the discovery of additional tunnel networks in the northern Gaza Strip, including one that runs under the Rantisi Hospital.
Troops from the 401st Brigade, Shayetet 13, and the Yahalom engineering unit uncovered the network of tunnels over the last few days.
The tunnel system contained three main branches, with tunnels running under the Rantisi Hospital and connecting several schools and a Hamas naval commander’s home. The tunnel contained a command center, with the shaft located next to a girls' school containing an elevator reaching a depth of 20 meters (about 65 feet).
Sections of the tunnels had been revealed on Nov. 13 by IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Daniel Hagari, however, the full extent of the tunnels was not known at that time.
During battles in the hospital area, IDF soldiers eliminated dozens of terrorists.
The tunnel was destroyed by explosives on Wednesday evening.
On Thursday morning, the IDF announced the death of three soldiers killed in fighting the day before. The soldiers were Sgt.-First Class (res.) Asaf Pinhas Tubul, 22; Cpt. (res.) Neriya Zisk, 24; and Maj. Dvir David Fima, 32.
At the time of publication, Palestinian media reported an Israeli airstrike in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza that killed a woman and injured several people.
While the IDF continues its “mopping up” operations to secure the northern Gaza Strip, it continues to focus its attention on eliminating Hamas leadership and finding the hostages in the southern Gaza Strip.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
