IDF says troops launched ‘surprise operation’ Sunday evening in central Gaza corridor

The IDF’s Nahal Brigade launched a new pinpoint operation against Hamas in the central Gaza Strip corridor earlier this week, which the military says is continuing amid the Passover holiday.

The IDF says the “surprise operation” that began Sunday night is aimed at “deepening the achievements” in the Netzarim corridor.

The corridor, built around a road south of Gaza City, enables the IDF to carry out raids in northern and central Gaza while allowing Israel to control access to the north for Palestinians seeking to return after fleeing south.

“The forces are carrying out targeted raids and are thwarting terror in the area,” the IDF says in a statement.

Nahal troops spotted several gunmen amid the raid, and called in airstrikes by fighter jets against them and the buildings they were spotted operating at, according to the IDF. It adds that secondary explosions seen after the strikes indicate that the buildings were used to store munitions.