The IDF reported Friday that two IDF soldiers were severely injured during an operation to rescue hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
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During the operation on Thursday overnight, numerous terrorists who took part in the abducting and holding of hostages were killed, however, no hostages were rescued. The families of the two IDF soldiers who were injured have been notified.
The IDF announced Friday afternoon that Master Sergeant (res.) Naftali Yonah Gordon, 32, from Jerusalem and Sergeant First Class (res.) Omri Rot, 25, from Katzrin, both 188th Armored Brigade soldiers, were killed in action in the Gaza Strip.
Shrapnel was found in several locations around Tel Aviv after rockets fired from the Gaza Strip were intercepted over the city, triggering air raid alarm sirens there and in neighboring cities. There were no immediate reports of injuries. A car was damaged by shrapnel
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Car damaged by shrapnel in Tel Aviv after rocket attack from Gaza
(Photo: Tomer Pnini)
Meanwhile, incoming threat alarms also sounded off near the Lebanon border, including an incoming hostile aircraft alert. Additional sirens blared in Holit, Sufa and Kerem Shalom near the Gaza border.
he IDF reported on Friday that engineering soldiers demolished several buildings the day before, including terrorist infrastructure used by Hamas for military activities at the Al-Azhar University in Gaza City’s upscale Al-Rimal neighborhood.
"IDF forces identified enemy assets in the university compound, including an underground tunnel route extending from the university courtyard and to a school about a kilometer away," according to a statement.
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Armaments uncovered by IDF forces at the Al-Azhar University in Gaza City’s upscale Al-Rimal neighborhood
(Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
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Anti-personnel mines uncovered by IDF forces at the Al-Azhar University in Gaza City’s upscale Al-Rimal neighborhood
(Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
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Hamas tunnel uncovered by IDF forces at the Al-Azhar University in Gaza City’s upscale Al-Rimal neighborhood
(Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
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Armaments uncovered by IDF forces at the Al-Azhar University in Gaza City’s upscale Al-Rimal neighborhood
(Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
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Armaments uncovered by IDF forces at the Al-Azhar University in Gaza City’s upscale Al-Rimal neighborhood
(Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
"Various weapons, including explosive devices, rocket parts, launchers, detonation mechanisms and numerous technological assets were found and sent for intelligence analysis. The findings on-site show that Hamas exploited the university premises for combat against our forces."
It was also reported that 14th Reserve Brigade soldiers raided a Hamas observation post near Al-Shati Hospital. "About 200 communication devices and dozens of cameras were uncovered at the post. A combat tunnel, storerooms, grenades, a shooting position, military equipment and ammunition were discovered nearby."
Meanwhile, Lebanon's Hezbollah-affiliated network Al-Manar reported on Israeli attacks in several areas in southern Lebanon.
Two rockets launched from the Gaza Strip crashed off the coast of central Israel, causing large explosions that rocked Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, Givatayim, Holon, Rishon Lezion and other neighboring cities.
The Bat Yam Municipality announced on Friday that Eitan Levy, 53, who was abducted to Gaza on October 7, has been murdered. His body is being held in the Gaza Strip. "We embrace the family and will continue to support them throughout all the way," a statement read.
Levy's sister, Sigalit Pershel, told Ynet two days after the massacre that "he was driving that morning to return his two daughters to their mother, and while on his way back, he called me and said there were missiles and that he was scared. Suddenly, I heard him say 'oh no,' and then I heard someone shout 'Allahu Akbar.'"
After that abrupt end to the call with her brother, Pershel listened as the terrorists drove away in his car. "His voice had disappeared, and I am torn apart. My husband heard gunshots and everything was in disarray."
Earlier, four rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip toward the southern city of Sderot, triggering air raid alarm sirens there and in neighboring communities, breaking a 15-hour lull in rocket fire from the Palestinian enclave
Two rockets were intercepted by air defenses, while the other two fell outside the city's borders. There were no reports of injuries or property damage.
Another siren sounded off in the area about an hour later, with at least one projectile intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system. Shortly thereafter, alarms blared in the southern town of Nitzanim.
Six Palestinians were killed during an IDF raid in the Far'a refugee camp near Nablus, Palestinian news agency WAFA reported on Friday.
In recent hours, a special reserve unit has been conducting operations to arrest wanted individuals in the camp, coming under fire and explosives from terrorists, some of whom were hit and killed by Israeli forces.
The Palestinian Health Ministry claimed that "additional Palestinians were injured during the forces' entry into the camp. Eyewitnesses reported that soldiers attempted to prevent Red Crescent ambulances from reaching the wounded."
Israeli forces have attacked over 450 targets in the Gaza Strip from air, sea and land in the last day, the IDF reported Friday morning.
The 7th Brigade in Khan Younis directed aircraft to successfully target several Hamas operatives.
IDF forces carry out hundreds of attacks against Gaza terror targets
(Video: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
In a separate action, drones attacked three terrorists; two were killed, while the third disclosed the whereabouts of additional operatives in a military facility, leading to their elimination.
IDF soldiers persist in their operations against terrorists, focusing on the detection and demolition of underground tunnels, armaments and other terrorist-related infrastructure.
The IDF Friday morning announced the deaths of Sergeant Major (res.) Kobi Dvash, 41, from Tiberias, an engineering soldier and Master Sergeant (res.) Eyal Meir Berkowitz, 28, from Jerusalem, a 699th Brigade soldier, who were killed in action in the southern and northern Gaza Strip, respectively, bringing the army's combat death toll since the resumption of fighting to 22.
Since the beginning of ground operations last month, 93 IDF service members have been killed and a total of 418 have lost their lives since October 7.
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Sergeant Major (res.) Kobi Dvash and Master Sergeant (res.) Eyal Meir Berkowitz
(Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
The UN Security Council is set to convene on Friday for an urgent discussion on the war in Gaza and to vote on a resolution proposal calling for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire. This meeting follows an extraordinary move by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who this week, for the first time during his tenure, invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter regarding the war in Gaza - a provision that can be activated in situations posing a threat to global peace and security.
Security Council member states are expected to vote on expressing "concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the suffering of the Palestinians, and calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza." This comes with an apparent disregard for the plight of captives held by Hamas, without any call for their release or condemnation of the terrorist organization.
Several Palestinians were killed in an Israeli attack in the Shijaiyah neighborhood, east of Gaza City, since the early hours of the morning, Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.
According to the report, dozens of Palestinians were injured. "The Israeli bombings continued in several areas of the Strip, mainly in the eastern regions of Khan Younis and along the coast of Rafah. Aerial strikes occurred in the central areas of the Strip," it was reported.
The Gaza Health Ministry, controlled by Hamas, updated that the number of fatalities in IDF strikes in the Strip since the outbreak of the war has risen to over 16,456 people. According to the ministry, approximately 42,250 others have been injured in the attacks.
IDF strikes Lebanon terrorist cell near IDF outpost, targets in Syria
(Video: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
The IDF reported an unmanned aerial vehicle attacked an armed terrorist cell identified by forces near the Mount Dov border outpost overnight Friday.
Additionally, Israeli forces also struck several Syrian army targets in response to rockets fired toward the Golan Heights.
First published: 09:07, 12.08.23