Israeli forces raided a bank in central Gaza that had Hamas funds and intelligence documents as leaders indicate their offensive may continue further south.
“Fighters of the battle team of the Yiftah Brigade raided Hamas safes in which 100 thousand NIS and documents testifying to the terrorist organization’s method of transferring funds were found,” the IDF said in a statement.
More than 20 terrorists were killed over the last day in western Khan Yunis, the IDF said on Friday morning. Israeli forces targeted “a number of different terror targets and compounds” where rifles, grenades, explosive devices, military equipment, and ammunition were found.
“We are completing the mission in Khan Yunis, and we will reach Rafah as well, and eliminate every terrorist there who threatens to harm us,” Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Thursday.
Ten thousand Hamas fighters have been killed and another 10,000 wounded, Gallant said, though the figures could not be independently verified. Before the war, Hamas had an estimated 30,000-40,000 fighters, meaning that if Gallant’s numbers are accurate, about half, or up to two-thirds, of Hamas had been taken off the battlefield.
Despite having reportedly killed or wounded 20,000 Hamas fighters, Israel’s military campaign has taken a devastating toll on Gaza. The Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry has said more than 25,000 people have been killed in Gaza, though that number does not differentiate between combatants and civilians.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said they will not stop the war until they achieve a complete victory. Israeli leaders have said their goal is to remove Hamas from power in Gaza and to demilitarize the U.S.-designated terrorist group. Simultaneously, Israeli leaders are trying to secure the release of the more than 100 people who remain hostages of Hamas, having been kidnapped during the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks.
Roughly 1.7 million people, over 75% of the population, have been displaced, with all of them fleeing south, the U.N. said on Friday. During the start of their military operations back in October, the IDF urged Palestinians to flee from northern Gaza to the south due to their operations, but they have not yet allowed Palestinians to return north.
