Hamas requested a lull in the fighting, having been pounded by the IDF. The terror group is suffering heavy casualties and serious damage to infrastructure.
Terror tunnels discovered by soldiers from the Paratroopers Brigade in the northern Gaza Strip on Friday. (Photo: IDF Spokesperson)
Hamas, allegedly suffering heavy casualties and destruction of terror cells and tunnels, has submitted a request for a new humanitarian ceasefire, media reports indicate.
The IDF had intensified its operation against Hamas in Gaza overnight on Saturday and on Sunday morning, with the goal of eradicating the huge terror cells and massive tunnels. The broadened Israeli strike includes added Special Forces, tanks and artillery.
Hamas terrorists have fired at least 1,705 rockets out of an estimated stockpile of approximately 10,000, according to the IDF, indicating there is a long way to go to defeat the terrorist threat.
IDF Discovers ‘Underground City’ of Terror
The IDF has discovered an “underground city” in Gaza filled with explosives, IDF Spokesman Brigadier-General Moti Almoz said Sunday, Israel National News reports.
Almoz spoke to Channel 10 following the discovery of at least 36 terror tunnels, the report continues. Many were filled with rockets, explosives and other weapons.
“Hamas planned these tunnels for years, and planned to use them to kidnap soldiers. [Now] they see the tunnels collapsing one after the other,” Almoz declared, according to INN.
Hamas “built an underground city full of bombs, meant to evade the IDF and to use in serious terrorist attacks,” he added.
Human Shields among Mass Casualties
Approximately 130 terrorists have been killed, reports indicate.
Mass casualties have occurred in the Shuja’iya region in northeast Gaza following heavy shelling by the IDF. On Thursday, the Israeli military had issued warnings to civilians to leave the area. Hamas, however, had urged residents to remain, and there is clear evidence that the terror group uses innocent men, women and children as human shields.
An Israeli soldier seen praying near the border in southern Israel on Sunday. (Photo: Mendy Hechtman/Flash90)
The IDF, fighting on the ground, noted huge terror cells located in hospitals, homes and other places where casualties would be sure to mount. Sources indicate that among those killed in the shelling was the family of senior Hamas terrorist Khalil al-Haya.
Meanwhile, four Israelis, including three IDF soldiers, have died since the launch of the ground invasion on Thursday; several were wounded. At least 30 soldiers have been injured in Shuja’iya.
Early Sunday afternoon, the IDF has authorized a “humanitarian window” to evacuate injured Palestinians from Shuja’iya, which will take place from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. The request was addressed by the international committee of the Red Cross through the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, Major General Yoav Mordechai.
“Any attempt to violate this window will not be tolerated,” the IDF stated.
Written by: United with Israel Staff