As rockets continue from Gaza, IDF and Shin Bet hit over 100 Hamas targets in Gaza over weekend

The Hamas terrorist organization fired a number of projectiles from the Gaza Strip toward Israeli territory over the weekend.

After several months of very little rocket fire from the Gaza Strip, the Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terror groups recently began increasing the number of launches. 

The launches, along with the recent release of a video showing hostage Liri Albag, could be an attempt by Hamas to present a stronger position in the negotiations for a hostage release ceasefire deal. 

On Saturday evening, a rocket launched from northern Gaza struck the Erez Border Crossing, which is used by humanitarian aid trucks to enter the Gaza Strip. The rocket caused some damage to the crossing, including an area near the compound used to inspect humanitarian aid trucks. 

The launch activated sirens in the nearby community of Netiv Ha’Asara and marked the ninth consecutive day that rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip. 

Meanwhile, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continues its operations in Gaza to destroy Hamas' capabilities.

In an operation based on Shin Bet and IDF intelligence, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) struck over 100 Hamas targets throughout Gaza, eliminating dozens of Hamas terrorists over the weekend. 

Additionally, the IDF struck several launch sites that had been used to fire rockets toward Israeli territory over the weekend. 

The military said that before the strikes, numerous measures had been taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians, including the use of precise munitions, aerial surveillance and additional intelligence.

On Saturday, the IDF reported that soldiers from the Yahalom Combat Engineering Unit located and destroyed an underground tunnel route containing a Hamas weapons manufacturing site. The site contained military equipment, lathes and cutting machines used to produce weapons. 

In addition, the military said that soldiers from the Kfir Brigade, along with soldiers of the Yahalom Unit, raided and destroyed a residential compound near Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza called the “Officers’ Neighborhood,” which had been used as a hideout and command center by senior Hamas commanders. 

The neighborhood contained several structures overlooking Israeli territory and served as a terror hub for Hamas, which used the buildings for anti-tank firing positions and launch sites targeting Israeli territory. IDF soldiers discovered booby traps, tunnel shafts and numerous explosives. 

The neighborhood was close to the border fence, near the Israeli community of Netiv Ha’Asara. 

The IDF and ISA (Israeli Security Agency), or Shin Bet, stated they “will continue to operate against the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip in defense of the citizens of Israel.”