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IDF kills dozens of terrorists in Gaza as Israel to begin pulling back troops

Israeli soldiers also killed four Palestinian terrorists in the West Bank

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Israeli forces conducting ground operations in the Gaza Strip on January 1 (Photo: IDF)

(JNS) Israeli forces killed dozens of terrorists in Jabalia and destroyed explosives planted on beaches during activities over the past 24 hours in the Gaza Strip, the IDF said on Tuesday. 

In a combined land, air and sea campaign, Hamas operatives who placed explosive devices along the Gaza coastline and in nearby buildings were killed and the incendiary devices placed to harm troops were demolished.

Furthermore, among the terrorists eliminated in Jabalia in northern Gaza were drone operators and armed individuals driving vehicles toward Israeli forces.

Additionally, in Bureij in the central Strip, IDF troops located several rocket launchers positioned adjacent to an UNRWA school. A weapons production facility, launch pits and long-range rocket launchers were also located in central Gaza. IDF engineering forces dismantled the launchers.

While operating in southern Gaza City, troops identified three terrorists entering a compound and directed an IDF fighter jet to strike the building. Following the hit, secondary explosions were observed, indicating that large quantities of weapons were stored inside the compound.

Also, forces continued to target Khan Yunis in the south of the Strip, conducting a targeted raid on an operational compound where weapons were stored and terrorist activities were directed. During the searches, many weapons were located.

The actions took place after Israel announced plans to pull back some troops, signalling a new phase in the nearly three-month-long war against Hamas.

Meanwhile, IDF soldiers killed four Palestinian terrorists during a raid overnight Monday in the village of Azzun, near Qalqilya in the West Bank. 

Troops from the 8211th Reserves Battalion were shot at from a house in the village and returned fire, eliminating the terrorists, according to the IDF.

One Israeli soldier was moderately wounded during the gun battle.

Following the exchange, troops confiscated three locally made submachine guns from the home.

In other raids across the West Bank, Israeli troops arrested seven wanted terror suspects and confiscated weapons.

Since the start of the war against Hamas on October 7, 2,550 wanted individuals have been arrested throughout the West Bank and the Jordan Valley, including 1,300 Hamas members.

The operations come amid unrelenting Palestinian attacks in the territories.

On Sunday, two Israelis were wounded in a stabbing attack at the Mishor Adumim industrial zone, located east of Jerusalem in the West Bank. 

Magen David Adom paramedics treated the victims, both security guards, at the scene before evacuating them, fully conscious and in stable condition, to the capital’s Hadassah Medical Center on Mount Scopus.

MDA said one of the victims, a 24-year-old woman, was in good-to-moderate condition, while the other, a man in his 20s, sustained minor wounds in the attack.

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