Intensified Military Activity
Ahead of continued fighting in Gaza, the IDF is deepening its operations as part of Operation Gideon’s Chariots. IDF Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee issued a warning Wednesday evening to residents returning to northern Gaza areas.
Combat Zones Are Dangerous
The warning is directed at residents who have returned or are planning to return to Beit Lahia, Jabalia, Beit Hanoun, and their surrounding neighborhoods: “The areas north of Salah al-Din and Jerusalem Streets are considered active combat zones. The IDF is operating in these areas with considerable force. For your safety, avoid traveling northward into these areas,” the spokesperson wrote.
162nd Division Operations
Over recent weeks, the 162nd Division has been active across large areas of northern Gaza. Combat teams from the Nahal Brigade, under the division’s command, operated in Beit Lahia. Numerous terror targets were struck from air and land, including militants, weapons stockpiles, booby-trapped buildings, rocket launchers, and tunnel shafts.
In one operation, troops destroyed a booby-trapped structure identified by drone surveillance. The structure contained explosives hidden in a sack, meant to harm IDF forces.
Givati Brigade in Jabalia
The Givati Brigade, also under the 162nd Division, conducted wide-scale operations in Jabalia. Soldiers eliminated multiple terrorists, discovered and destroyed weapons hidden in residential homes, and demolished terror infrastructure, including tunnel shafts and underground routes.
Golani Brigade in Southern Gaza
In one recent operation, soldiers spotted several militants in the area. They directed Air Force aircraft, which closed in and carried out a precision strike that eliminated the targets.
In southern Gaza, specifically Khan Younis, Golani soldiers have been working in recent weeks to destroy terror shafts, booby-trapped paths, and weapons depots both above and below ground. So far, dozens of terror infrastructures have been destroyed and several militants killed in close combat. The IDF emphasized that the operation’s goal is to disrupt Hamas’s combat capabilities and protect Israeli civilians.
Waiting for Hamas’s Response
In the coming days, Hamas is expected to deliver an updated response to the American proposal, in hopes of narrowing the gaps between the parties and moving toward the new Witkoff framework. Sources involved in the negotiations indicated that behind-the-scenes efforts are ongoing to formulate a mutually acceptable version that will allow for progress.
The plan is to revisit each clause, draft a softer version, and send it to U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who will consult with relevant officials in Israel.
