After 3 months, IDF says Hamas ‘military framework’ in northern Gaza destroyed

Israel Defense Forces announced on Saturday evening that Hamas’ “military framework” in the northern Gaza Strip has been dismantled

IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Daniel Hagari said Israeli forces had dismantled Hamas’ military framework in the northern Gaza Strip and eliminated roughly 8,000 Hamas fighters since the start of the war. 

“We have completed the dismantling of Hamas' military framework in the northern Gaza Strip and will continue to deepen the achievement, strengthening the barrier and the defense components along the security fence,” Hagari stated.

Key quotes from tonight’s (Saturday) briefing by IDF Spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, marking three months into the war:

“We have completed the dismantling of Hamas' military framework in the northern Gaza Strip and will continue to deepen the achievement, strengthening… pic.twitter.com/5JrgksEYJT

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) January 6, 2024

“Now, we are focusing on dismantling Hamas in the central and southern Gaza Strip. We will do this differently, thoroughly, based on the lessons we have learned from the fighting so far.” 

According to Hagari, in the Jabaliya neighborhood alone, the IDF discovered over 8 km (5 miles) of tunnels with more than 40 tunnel shafts. Inside the tunnel system, the troops discovered military headquarters, bases, weapons storage sites, and other infrastructure, often under civilian sites like hospitals. 

Despite announcements of transitioning to a new phase, Hagari said that the IDF will continue fighting.

“Fighting will continue during 2024. We are operating according to a plan to achieve the war's goals, to dismantle Hamas in the north and south,” Hagari stated. 

“There are still terrorists in Jabaliya,” he clarified. “However, they now operate without a framework and without commanders. We have encountered and will continue to encounter sporadic rocket fire from this area.” 

The IDF recovered valuable intelligence during its raids on Hamas facilities in the Gaza Strip, including computers, maps, communication devices and hard drives. According to Hagari, about 70 million intelligence files were recovered from computers, which are being analyzed by security services. 

On one of the computers, the analysts discovered a recent photo of Hamas’ military commander Mohammed Deif. Israel has attempted to eliminate Deif several times over the years, but each attempt has failed.

Deif was injured in one of the previous assassination attempts and was believed to be using a wheelchair, although recent intelligence suggests he can walk for short periods, with a limp. Several wheelchairs have been discovered in the underground tunnels, at least some of which are believed to have been used by Deif. 

According to Hagari, many Hamas terrorists in Jabaliya surrendered to the IDF and are being interrogated.

The IDF also announced the killing of the commander and deputy commander of Hamas’ Nuseirat Battalion in an airstrike. 

Ismail Siraj, the commander of the Nuseirat Battalion, and Ahmed Wehbe, his deputy commander, were both killed in an airstrike based on information from the IDF Military Intelligence Directorate and the Shin Bet security agency.