IDF strikes gunmen who approached troops in north Gaza after emerging from tunnel

A group of at least five armed Palestinian terror operatives on Saturday evening emerged from a tunnel and approached troops in the northern Gaza Strip, on the Israeli side of a ceasefire line, the military said.

The Israel Defense Forces said the incident in the Beit Hanoun area was a “blatant violation” of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, hinting that it would respond. In past incidents of attacks on troops in Gaza amid the ceasefire, the IDF has launched waves of strikes against Hamas and allied terror groups.

In a statement, the IDF said soldiers monitoring surveillance cameras identified the gunmen coming out of an underground site and entering a damaged building on the Israeli side of the Yellow Line — demarcating where the military pulled back to in the Strip — near troops of the Gaza Division’s Northern Brigade who were stationed in the area.

An Israeli Air Force drone then struck the building, killing at least two of the gunmen, the military said, adding that additional operatives were likely also killed in the strike.

The IDF published footage showing the gunmen and the strike.

Troops were continuing to scan the area “to locate and eliminate the terrorists who may remain,” the IDF said.

הפרה בוטה נוספת של הסכם הפסקת האש: זוהו מחבלים חמושים סמוך לכוחות צה"ל הפועלים בצפון רצועת עזה

כוחות צוות הקרב של החטיבה הצפונית בפיקוד אוגדה 98 ממשיכים לפעול להשמדת תשתיות תת-קרקעיות בצפון רצועת עזה בהתאם להסכם.

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“The IDF views any attempt by terror organizations in the Gaza Strip to carry out terror attacks against IDF troops and civilians of the State of Israel gravely,” the army added.

Since the start of the ceasefire in October, the IDF has said it has killed dozens of terror operatives and other suspects who have crossed the Yellow Line and approached troops. Such incidents have taken place on a near-daily basis.

Earlier Saturday, the IDF said that a Palestinian who crossed the ceasefire line in the Jabalia area of northern Gaza was killed by troops.

According to the military, the terror operative crossed the Yellow Line and approached soldiers of the Northern Brigade “in a manner that posed an immediate threat.”

“Immediately after identification, the forces eliminated the terrorist to remove the threat,” the IDF said.

The US-brokered ceasefire plan reached in October foresees the demilitarization of Gaza and the disarmament of Hamas, as well as the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the enclave. The terror group, however, has not agreed to give up its weapons.

Even with fighting officially halted, near-daily incidents have occurred along the ceasefire line, with Israel accusing Hamas of violating its terms and the terror group making counterclaims.

During a visit to Gaza on Friday, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said the military would not give up on the war objective of demilitarizing the Strip and disarming Hamas, while also confirming that the army has such plans ready to go if the government orders it.

“During the war, we achieved an unprecedented accomplishment: all of Hamas’s frontline battalions were destroyed. Hamas was militarily defeated, and all the hostages returned home,” Zamir said in the Rafah area, according to remarks published by the IDF.

“The IDF is deployed along a security border — the Yellow Line — controls the gateways to the Strip, and is systematically clearing the area of terror infrastructure,” he continued.

Zamir said the IDF is “prepared to shift from defense to offense,” and “will respond to any violation.”

“We are not giving up on the war’s objective, the full demilitarization of the Gaza Strip and the disarmament of Hamas,” he said.

“We are acting in accordance with the directives of the political echelon, while also holding decisive military plans and are prepared to act offensively as required,” Zamir said.

This week, The Times of Israel reported that the IDF had drawn up plans for a renewed offensive in Gaza aimed at disarming Hamas.

“There is no immunity for terror. What applies to Gaza also applies to the other arenas. We will continue to remain focused and cut down threats, with determination and in an offensive manner,” Zamir added.