Day 117 - 3 soldiers killed, 5 wounded as fighting continues in southern and northern Gaza Strip

Over the last day, IDF soldiers from the 401st Brigade operating in the northern Gaza Strip continued to conduct raids against Hamas terror infrastructure.

In one raid on terror infrastructure inside a school, approximately 10 Islamic Jihad terrorist operatives, who were using the school as a hideout, were apprehended by IDF troops.

The soldiers also located and destroyed five ready-to-fire rockets in the vicinity of the school. IDF soldiers eliminated more than 15 Hamas terrorists during battles in the area. 

Soldiers from the 5th Brigade’s battlegroup, operating near Al-Shati in the northern Gaza Strip, discovered a group of armed terrorists maneuvering nearby, posing an immediate threat to the forces. In cooperation with the Israeli Air Force (IAF), the soldiers called in an airstrike, eliminating the terrorists. 

Soldiers conducted searches of Hamas sites in the area, where they located large quantities of weapons, as well as documents, and military equipment belonging to the terrorist organization. 

In fighting in the central Gaza Strip, IDF troops from the Nahal Brigade reported eliminating more than 10 armed terrorists in under an hour. 

Meanwhile, in western Khan Younis, a group of paratroopers identified an armed terror cell near their position. Following the identification, IDF troops directed an airstrike, killing the terror cell.

During additional activity in the area, forces from the 98th Division and the IAF conducted a joint strike on a site being used by Hamas to carry out ambushes on IDF soldiers. 

On Wednesday morning, IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Daniel Hagari announced that three reserve soldiers were killed during fighting in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday. 

Warrant Officer Yuval Nir, 43, and Captain Gavriel Shani, 28, were killed in fighting in the southern Gaza Strip, while Major Netzer Simchi, 30, was killed in combat in the northern Strip. 

In addition, five other fighters were injured, two in the fighting that killed Nir and Shani, one in the fighting in the central Gaza Strip, and two in the northern Gaza Strip. 

The IDF also announced that a police officer, Ran Gavili, had been killed during fighting on Oct. 7 near Alumim, and his body is believed to be held by Hamas. 

The Israeli military continues to press hard against Hamas ahead of a possible hostage release deal, which could see a six-week ceasefire, according to the latest reports in Hebrew media. An Egyptian newspaper claimed that a new hostage deal could be announced as soon as next week.