Defense Minister Israel Katz on Tuesday confirmed that the IDF had successfully captured a senior Hamas terrorist while carrying out strikes on several targets in the Gaza Strip in response to threats against Israeli forces.
"A short time ago, a senior Hamas terrorist was arrested, and this is our policy: We do not wait for threats. Instead, we pursue Hamas terrorists, thwart them, and destroy their terrorist infrastructure. We have built a strong and unprecedented security zone in Gaza to protect residents and IDF soldiers," Katz said.
"Nearly 70% of the Gaza Strip has been destroyed, with no residents, no tunnels, and no homes, and the IDF controls the territory. We are not leaving Gaza until the Strip is demilitarized, Hamas is disarmed, and all terrorist tunnels are destroyed. Even after that, the IDF will remain in Gaza along defensive lines and ensure the security of the western Negev communities. Any attempt to bypass the security zone through aerial launches will be met with a harsh response."
It was unclear what strategic change could be achieved in the standoff with Hamas through the operation, though its daring and the entrance of Israeli-aligned forces deeper into a Hamas area were bound to grab the public's attention mid-election more than the regular airstrikes, which barely register in the media most days.
Following the strikes, the IDF stated that there had been no Israeli casualties.
Initially, Al Hadath reported that the IDF had coordinated with Gazan militias to attempt to "kidnap a figure near the Red Cross headquarters in Gaza."
According to Al Hadath, the strikes occured after the operation was exposed.
IDF sources would not deny foreign reports that Israel worked alongside Gazan militias to arrest the senior Hamas official.
However, on the record, the IDF only referred to its extremely vague statement about removing Hamas threats.
Ten explosions were heard in the Gaza City area as a result of the strikes, Palestinian sources reported. Al Jazeera reported that Israeli military aircraft were flying at low altitude over the area, while Al Hadath reported that drones continued to drop a large number of bombs in the area.
IDF special forces reportedly entered American Hospital area
Additionally, reports emerged that IDF special forces had entered the area of the American Hospital in the al-Katiba area of western Gaza City.
Palestinian reports described exchanges of fire and shooting involving special forces in western Gaza City. There were also reports of a large number of casualties among Gazans as a result of the strikes.
Separately, there were reports of smoke shells being fired in the Shati refugee camp in western Gaza City, along the coast.
Local gangs contribute, but are not primary drivers of toppling Hamas
Political leaks suggesting that Gaza's local gangs have any chance of taking over Gaza from Hamas in the near or medium term are divorced from reality.
Each of these groups can only survive now with clear IDF protection and can only confront Hamas for small and limited operations.
If their numbers range between the dozens and a couple of hundred, Hamas still has thousands or more foot soldiers.
Put differently, these local gangs might contribute over the long term to Hamas's fall, but they will not be a central component of it.
Rather, most experts agree that either some arm of the Palestinian Authority or a hybrid of the PA, Egypt, the ISF, and some outside IDF support would be needed to overcome Hamas in the long term.
Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.