Israel Says Its Forces Operating in ‘Heart of Gaza City’ to Wipe Out Hamas – News18

Israel said on Tuesday its forces were operating deep in Gaza City in their battle to wipe out Hamas in the Palestinian enclave and said the Islamist militant group’s leader was trapped inside a bunker there.

Retaliating for a deadly Oct. 7 attack by Hamas gunmen, the Israeli military is focused on Gaza City, Hamas’ stronghold in the north of the territory. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told a televised news conference that Israeli soldiers had advanced to the heart of Gaza City and “were tightening the noose”. Troops on foot and in armoured vehicles and tanks “have one target – Hamas terrorists in Gaza, their infrastructure, their commanders, bunkers, communications rooms,” Gallant said.

Hamas’ most senior leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, was isolated in his bunker, Gallant said, adding it was Sinwar “who a month ago made the murderous decision to attack Israeli civilians, women, and children.” And now, he is “cut off from his surroundings, his chain of command is weakening,” Gallant said. Hamas’ military wing had no immediate comment on the possible fate of Sinwar.

Below the city, Gallant said, there were kilometres (miles) of tunnels that ran under schools and hospitals and that housed weapons depots, communication rooms and hideouts for militants. Security sources told Reuters Israel’s military was starting the next phase of its war, focused on locating and disabling Hamas’ labyrinth of tunnels, and it may take months to complete.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – Reuters)