A launcher in the Khan Yunis area loaded with rockets aimed at Israeli territory was destroyed.
By Joshua Marks, JNS
Red alert warnings were heard in the Gaza border communities of Nirim, Nir Oz and Magen on Thursday morning as Israeli forces continued to target Hamas across the Strip.
The sirens sounded after no rockets were fired from Gaza at Israel on Wednesday for the first time since the Oct. 7 massacre, with the exception of the Nov. 25-30 ceasefire.
Over the last day, dozens of Israeli Air Force aircraft attacked some 230 Hamas terror targets in the Gaza Strip, including in the Khan Yunis area in the south, where a fighter jet destroyed a compound and eliminated the terrorists inside, and in the area of Al-Shati Camp in the coastal north.
Furthermore, a launcher loaded with rockets aimed at Israeli territory was located and destroyed in the Khan Yunis area.
In Jabalia in the north of the Strip, Israeli soldiers facilitated the orderly evacuation of civilians from a school complex southwards and found weapons in the school.
במסגרת הפעילות הקרקעית של לוחמי המילואים מצוות הקרב החטיבתי 551 בג׳באליא, פעלו הכוחות לפינוי מוסדר של אוכלוסייה דרומה משטח של מתחם בתי ספר. הלוחמים ערכו סריקות בבית הספר ואיתרו אמצעי לחימה רבים במרחב >> pic.twitter.com/hu3KdBBJa0
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) December 21, 2023
Also, the Israeli Navy overnight Wednesday struck vessels in Gaza intended for terrorist activities, according to the IDF.
In addition to Khan Yunis and Jabalia, heavy fighting was reported in Shejaia, Al-Safatawi, Sheikh Radwan and Beit Hanun. The IDF also reportedly launched a broad attack on the Daraj a-Tupah neighborhood of Gaza City, with one of the aims being the destruction of Hamas’s rocket-launching capabilities.
Three more soldiers slain in Gaza
The IDF released for publication on Thursday morning the names of three more soldiers slain in Gaza: Sgt. Lavi Gihassi, 19, from Hashmonaim; Lt. Yaakov Elian, 20, from Ramat Gan; and Lt. Omri Schwartz, 21, from Shadmot Dvora.
They were all killed in battle in the north of the coastal enclave.
We are heartbroken to report on the deaths of 3 additional #IDF soldiers who were killed in #Gaza during this current operation against #Hamas terrorists. May the memories and heroism of these brave men forever be a blessing. 🕯️ pic.twitter.com/dbuH1l7j35
— StandWithUs (@StandWithUs) December 21, 2023
A total of 137 soldiers have been killed since the start of the Gaza ground invasion on Oct. 27; 469 soldiers have fallen since the war began on Oct. 7.