Israel steps up Gaza airstrikes as Shifa push grinds on

Israeli Air Force fighter jets stepped up air attacks in Gaza over the past day, hitting more than 60 targets across theStrip, largely in support of forces maneuvering on the ground, the Israel Defense Forces says.

The targets included attack tunnels and buildings where gunmen were gathered, according to the IDF. The number of strikes is higher than it has been in recent weeks.

The IDF says it also struck targets in an area from which three rockets were fired at the southern city of Sderot last night.

Meanwhile, the IDF’s operation against Hamas at Gaza City’s Shifa Hospital continues, with the military saying troops killed several gunmen and captured weapons over the past day.

The raid at Shifa, which began early March 18, is being carried out by the Navy’s Shayetet 13 commando unit, the 401st Armored Brigade, and Nahal Infantry Brigade.

The IDF says many more Hamas operatives were killed during operations over the past day in southern Gaza’s al-Qarara and the al-Amal neighborhood of Khan Younis, where troops of the Commando Brigade and Paratroopers Brigade also captured caches of weapons.

The 7th Armored Brigade, also operating in the Khan Younis area, raided several buildings used by Hamas, and in the process captured weapons, destroyed infrastructure, and killed operatives, the IDF says.

Nahal troops operating in central Gaza killed several more Hamas operatives over the past day, including by calling in airstrikes against cells spotted near them, the IDF says.