According to the army, troops destroyed Hamas infrastructure, eliminated fighters, and neutralized explosive sites during the past 24 hours.
Israel’s military on Friday signaled a sharp escalation in operations in the Gaza Strip, beginning with an evacuation notice delivered to residents of a multi-story building used by Hamas in Gaza City.
Defense Minister Israel Katz described the move as a turning point in the conflict.
“Now the lock on the hell gates in Gaza has been opened,” Katz said. “Once the door opens, it will not close, and IDF operations will continue to intensify — until Hamas murderers and rapists accept Israel’s conditions for ending the war, foremost among them the release of all hostages and disarmament — or they will be destroyed.”