The circle of war expanded in various parts of the Gaza Strip yesterday, reminiscent of its onset more than seven months ago. The Israeli army reported that its forces "identified and dismantled armed cells, launch pads ready for missile firing, weapons storage facilities, observation points, and tunnel passages." While the army specifically mentioned tunnels in the Rafah area, in the extreme south of Gaza, it also stated that it received intelligence about Hamas's attempts to consolidate its military infrastructure in the Jabalia camp, in northern Gaza. The army added that it continues "precise operations" in specific areas of eastern Rafah, the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing in the south of the strip, and the Shuja'iyya neighborhood in Gaza City.
The statement noted that the army identified and dismantled several tunnel openings and rocket launchers prepared for firing towards Israel in Rafah. Hamas surprised Israel through its military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, by targeting its forces in northern Gaza, prompting Tel Aviv to send tanks to the Jabalia refugee camp area. Al-Qassam reported that it executed an operation targeting an Israeli tank (east of Jabalia) and detonated a booby-trapped house where Israeli soldiers took refuge, resulting in casualties. In response, Israeli army spokesperson Daniel Hagari stated: "We have observed in recent weeks attempts by Hamas to rehabilitate its military capabilities in Jabalia. We are conducting operations there to thwart those attempts." In the north of the strip, Al-Qassam also mentioned that it "shelled Israeli forces in the southern part of the Shuja'iyya neighborhood with mortar shells," and it launched two missile barrages at the town of Sderot.
