In ongoing intense clashes with Hamas in the heart of Gaza on Monday, IDF troops expanded their operations, gaining control of Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza. Simultaneously, forces advanced in the Shejaiya neighborhood of Gaza City, leading to the arrest of Hamas gunmen. Amid these operations, Israel permitted the increase in both the quantity and types of humanitarian aid entering the Strip.
The military reported that two IDF soldiers lost their lives on Monday during the confrontations in Gaza, bringing the total number of troops killed in the ground offensive against Hamas to 129.
The fallen soldiers were identified as Cpt. Yarin Gahali, aged 22, a platoon commander in the Givati Brigade’s reconnaissance unit, hailing from Rehovot, and Cpt. (res.) Netanel Silberg, aged 33, a team commander in the Combat Engineering Corps’ Yahalom unit, from Na’ama.
Tragically, Cpt. Yarin Gahali lost his life in southern Gaza during the operations, while Cpt. (res.) Netanel Silberg was killed in the northern part of the Strip. Their sacrifice underscores the toll exacted during the intense military engagements in the region. the heart of Gaza
The military said Monday that troops in its 252nd Reserve Division had completed operations against Hamas in the Beit Hanoun area of northern Gaza, and handed over responsibility of the region to the Gaza Division, indicating the military has firm control of that sector.
Soldiers eliminated “many terrorists” during the operation in the city, destroyed their weapons depots, rocket launchers, underground command centers, and “significant” tunnels,” the IDF said, capturing all of the Beit Hanoun battalion’s main compounds and strongholds.