Troops in northern Gaza battle, kill numerous Hamas gunmen, IDF says

During ground operations in the southern part of Gaza City, the IDF says troops of the Yiftah Reserve Brigade carried out an ambush against Hamas, leading to dozens of terror operatives being killed.

The IDF says the troops opened fire in a deceptive manner to cause dozens of gunmen to flee into a building used as a command center. The building was then struck by a fighter jet.

Also in the southern Gaza City area, the IDF says Yiftah Brigade snipers killed several Hamas gunmen who were preparing to attack troops.

Other buildings identified by the brigade as being used by Hamas in the area were struck by aircraft, the IDF adds.

In an unspecified area of Gaza City, the IDF says troops of the 14th Reserve Armored Brigade identified a group of Hamas gunmen and called in an airstrike.

In the Shati camp area of Gaza City, the IDF says the 14th Brigade identified a further three Hamas gunmen who had opened fire at them. The brigade called in an airstrike to kill the three operatives.

The incidents in Gaza City indicate that while the IDF has operational control over the area, it is still battling smaller Hamas cells.

Meanwhile, in central Gaza, the IDF says the 179th Reserve Armored Brigade found a cache of weapons in a children’s daycare center, including mortars, RPGs and other explosives.

במסגרת הפעילות הקרקעית במרחב עיסא שבדרום העיר עזה, לוחמי צוות הקרב החטיבתי יפתח (11), כהערכות למארב מתוכנן, ביצעו ירי להטעיה שהוביל לבריחת עשרות מחבלים לתוך מבנה ששימש כמפקדת חמאס>> pic.twitter.com/h4e7wwCaUo

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) December 23, 2023