Israeli Forces Battle Hamas’s Daraj Tuffah Battalion in Gaza

By Yoni Weiss

Israeli ground, aerial, and naval forces engaged in fierce battles against the Daraj Tuffah Battalion of Hamas’s Gaza City Brigade on Thursday, the IDF announced.

Israeli fighter jets targeted key leaders of the battalion in late October, killing Battalion Commander Rifat Abbas, Battalion Deputy Commander Ibrahim Jadba, and Combat Support Commander Tarek Maarouf. The Gaza City Brigade is a crucial division within Hamas, notably involved in the Oct. 7 attacks, according to the IDF.

Recent operations involved naval support aiding ground troops in the Gaza Strip. Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi approved operational plans for the Northern Command and emphasized the readiness to retaliate if necessary. He stressed the priority of ensuring residents’ safety before their return to the area.

The IDF spokesperson revealed actions against Hezbollah along the Israeli-Lebanese border, reporting the thwarting of attacks and the destruction of terrorist infrastructure. Over 150 terrorists were eliminated by the IDF since Oct. 8, with 129 confirmed as Hezbollah terrorists.

Additionally, Israeli forces disclosed the destruction of an extensive tunnel network under a hospital and a girls’ school in Gaza City. These tunnels, intricately connected and several meters deep, posed a significant threat beneath Rantisi Hospital and around the Ramaz Fahrah school.