IDF moves to reinforce northern Gaza Strip as Hamas presence increases

The IDF will begin reinforcing its positions in the northern Gaza Strip, according to IDF Radio on Monday morning.

The radio announcement came amid concerns that Hamas has begun to renew its presence in the area, following the drawing down of IDF troops announced at the beginning of January. 

The IDF is expected to carry out several brigade-level operations to prevent the reestablishment of an organized Hamas presence in the northern Gaza Strip. 

The timing of the announcement appears to be related to a rocket launch from northern Gaza toward Ashkelon on Sunday afternoon, the first in a month, as well as reports of fighting on the beach west of Gaza City. 

On, in the outskirts of Al-Shati in the northern Gaza Strip, soldiers of the 5th Brigade Combat Team eliminated a number of Hamas terrorists during several encounters. In cooperation with the Israeli Air Force (IAF), soldiers from the 5th Brigade eliminated a terror cell and destroyed several anti-tank positions. 

The soldiers also located large quantities of weapons in the area, including Kalashnikovs, RPGs, IEDs, missiles and many launchers. Residents of Gaza City also reported that Israeli Navy boats were firing at targets on the beach. 

The IDF estimates that about 2,000 Hamas terrorists remain in the northern Gaza Strip. The Hamas operatives are believed to be disconnected from senior Hamas leaders in the southern Strip. However, a local commander, Izz a-Din al-Haddad, is believed to be behind the recent activity against IDF soldiers in the northern Strip. 

In southern Gaza, IDF troops continued their targeted raids aimed at discovering and destroying weapons stashes left by Hamas for terrorists to be used in the fighting. 

During a raid on the home of a known Hamas terrorist in Khan Younis, fighters from the Paratroopers Brigade found weapons and military equipment, which was confiscated. The soldiers also identified four terrorists that the IDF reported were preparing to attack Israeli forces near the al-Amal Hospital. The terrorists were eliminated by the paratroopers. 

In another operation, soldiers raided a safe house belonging to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group, where they found weapons. 

Palestinian residents in southern Gaza said that the IDF has begun issuing warnings in Arabic, advising them to move to humanitarian safe zones as the fighting in Khan Younis intensifies.