Israel Says It Is Conducting Military Operations in the 'Heart of Gaza City'

Israel announced on Tuesday that its forces are working deep within Gaza City to eliminate Hamas, with the group's leader reportedly trapped in a bunker. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated that Israeli soldiers are operating in the heart of Gaza City. In a televised press conference, Gallant mentioned that Yahya Sinwar, the key Hamas leader in Gaza, is hiding in his shelter. According to Reuters, Gallant said that Israeli military forces have launched coordinated attacks from the north and south, integrating ground, air, and naval forces. He noted that Israeli troops are present on foot, in armored vehicles, and tanks, along with military engineers, all with one goal - to target Hamas terrorists in Gaza, their infrastructure, commanders, bunkers, and communication rooms. 'They are tightening the noose around Gaza City,' Gallant stated. He also highlighted that there are kilometers of tunnels beneath Gaza City, extending under schools and hospitals, containing weapon caches, communication rooms, and Hamas militants' hideouts. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a televised statement, declared, 'Gaza City is besieged; we are operating inside it. We are increasing pressure on Hamas every hour and every day. We have killed thousands of terrorists above and below ground so far.' The Israeli army reported that Hamas militants fired anti-tank missiles from hospitals at Israeli forces and that soldiers discovered weapons hidden in a school in northern Gaza. The military wing of Hamas, which has governed this small, densely populated area for 16 years, claimed that its forces are inflicting heavy damage on Israeli forces. The military wing of Hamas did not immediately comment on the possible fate of Sinwar. Independent verification of claims from both sides of the conflict was not possible. The war began on October 7 when Hamas forces crossed the Gaza fence, killing 1,400 Israelis, mostly civilians, and abducting over 200. Since then, Israel has bombarded Gaza, a coastal area, and according to officials in the Hamas-controlled region, over 10,000 people have been killed, with about 40 percent reported to be children. Israel, the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Japan consider the Islamist group Hamas, which is supported by the Islamic Republic, a terrorist organization.