Hamas launches rockets at Israel from inside humanitarian zone

The Hamas terrorist organization launched rockets from the Humanitarian Route in Khan Younis, the IDF reported on Wednesday. 

On Tuesday, as IDF troops were actively operating in the area of Khan Younis, after civilians were instructed to evacuate the area, two rockets were launched toward Tel Aviv in central Israel. 

Shortly afterward, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) struck targets in the area from which the rockets were launched. The military said the strikes were carried out adjacent to the launch site, outside of the Humanitarian Route. 

On Wednesday, Hamas released a video on its Telegram channel showing its members dressed in civilian clothing as they launched two rockets toward Israel from a tent in the humanitarian zone. 

Hamas terrorists continue to terrorize Israelis and endanger the Gazans around them.

This is a video showing how Hamas terrorists, dressed in civilian clothing, launched two rockets towards central Israel yesterday from a humanitarian area.

Once again, Hamas is putting Gazan… pic.twitter.com/Sanyw0sjiZ

— LTC Nadav Shoshani (@LTC_Shoshani) August 14, 2024

The IDF stated: “The Hamas terrorist organization continues to deliberately embed its military assets used to carry out attacks against Israel next to humanitarian infrastructure and the civilian population inside the Gaza Strip.” 

The military also said its troops continued with “precise, intelligence-based operational activity” in the area of Tel al-Sultan in Rafah. 

Over the past day, IDF soldiers eliminated armed terrorists during the fighting and located large quantities of weapons, ammunition, grenades and additional explosive devices.

IDF troops continue operational activities in the area of Khan Younis, which they started last week. 

According to the IDF, after eliminating several terrorists in an apartment building during a firefight, the soldiers entered the building, where they discovered weapons, tactical vests, military equipment and an operational tunnel shaft. 

The IAF struck over 40 terror sites throughout the Gaza Strip, including infrastructure from which terrorists fired anti-tank missiles, and terrorists who threatened IDF troops. 

IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi held a situational assessment at the Philadelphi Corridor in Rafah, which lies next to the Egyptian border. 

Halevi called the dismantling of Hamas “the most important mission” because it would allow Israelis who live in the Gaza Envelope communities to return. 

The IDF chief spoke about the need to destroy all terror infrastructure in Gaza “and not leave any stepping stones” for them to rebuild. 

Finally, he said the return of the hostages “is the goal of the war.” 

“Hamas needs to know that every day that it holds our hostages will be more bitter for it than the previous day,” Halevi stated. “And we will intensify until we succeed in bringing back the hostages and then not allow Hamas to lift its head either.”