The Times of Israel (TOI) reported on the 29th (local time) that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and members of the Palestinian armed group Hamas fought at the entrance to a tunnel in the northern Gaza Strip.
According to reports, the IDF engaged in a gunfight with Hamas militants coming out of an underground tunnel near the Erez border crossing in northern Gaza that day. The tunnel in question is a massive underground tunnel called the ‘Gaza Metro’.
The media reported that during this process, several mortars were fired and an air raid siren warning sounded in the nearby Netiv Haasara area.
The IDF later announced that it had killed several Hamas troops. In addition, the IDF said, “The ground forces requested the air force to carry out drone attacks targeting two Hamas concentration areas,” and added, “Through this, several people were killed.”
The Hamas armed organization Al-Qassam Brigades said, “Currently, our fighters are engaged in fierce fighting with machine guns and anti-tank weapons against the invading forces in the northwestern part of the Gaza Strip,” AFP reported.
The IDF also announced that it had killed several Hamas militants near the town of Zikim in southern Israel. IDF ground forces are also continuing to strike Hamas infrastructure, including anti-tank guided missile positions and observation posts.
Israel has been expanding ground operations in the Gaza Strip since the 27th. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a press conference on the 28th and declared, “The war has entered the second phase.” IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari also said, “Infantry, armored, engineer units and artillery are stationed in the northern part of the Gaza Strip and the war is continuing.”
Hyewon Lee, Donga.com
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.