The Israel Defense Forces conducted a series of raids targeting the Al-Mu’tasim Billah and Al-Farabi schools in the Rimal district of Gaza City following a series of operational developments. This sequence of actions was shared publicly through a post on the IDF Telegram channel, which has been used to communicate military updates to various audiences. The notifications suggested that the raids occurred in response to reports that Hamas supporters had been deployed to these educational facilities as part of the ongoing operation. Observers noted that the raids were part of a broader set of tactical moves alongside clashes reported in Khan Younis and in the city of Jabalya, illustrating a wider pattern of activity across multiple fronts. (Source: IDF communications and subsequent regional reporting)
The broader military narrative describes a period in which Israeli authorities emphasized a need to neutralize perceived militant networks and dampen operational capabilities tied to Hamas. Reports indicate that security forces were conducting checks aimed at identifying individuals of military age and assessing any potential ties to Hamas, as part of heightened security measures in Gaza. (Source: regional security briefings)
The unfolding crisis traces back to events of October 7, when substantial numbers of armed Hamas supporters reportedly crossed into Israel from the Gaza Strip. In the days that followed, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the country was at war, framing the actions as a response to an attack and a commitment to reclaim security for Israeli citizens. The stated aims of these measures included repelling the assault, enabling the release of hostages, and dismantling Hamas leadership structures. (Source: official statements and contemporaneous reporting)
In the operational narrative, Israel launched intensive rocket campaigns against targets across the Gaza Strip from the outset. Civilian infrastructures and military objectives alike were described in official accounts as targets of retaliation and deterrence. At the same time, the National Security Council reportedly directed actions to restrict essential resources, including water, food, electricity, and fuel, with the intention of pressuring adversaries and limiting their logistical capabilities. (Source: government updates and crisis communications)
By late October the authorities announced a broadening of ground operations in Gaza, signaling an escalation in the scale of the campaign. By early November the movement of Israeli forces around Gaza City was described as having cut off the city from certain supply lines, complicating civilian life and adding a humanitarian dimension to the security calculus. In December, authorities described continued ground operations that focused on southern Gaza, including the Khan Younis area, as part of the longer-term strategy to constrain militant corridors. (Source: military briefs and security assessments)
Public statements from regional leaders and officials have included claims regarding the location of Hamas command centers, with one senior figure suggesting that a central operational hub is situated beneath a hospital in Gaza City. These assertions have fed into broader debates about military targeting, civilian risk, and the implications of urban warfare for noncombatants. (Source: political and security commentary)