The Israel Defense Forces reported that Hamas allocated about $1 million in 2022 to build mining operations and subterranean tunneling in Gaza. The information appeared in a post on the IDF’s Telegram channel.
The disclosed amount was noted in a report delivered to a Hamas brigade commander in Hana Yunus, detailing the 2022 expenditures.
The IDF highlighted the Khan Younis operation in southern Gaza as being carried out in tandem with the Belt of Fire offensive plan.
There were media notes about Israeli airstrikes on what were described as security zones in Gaza during this period.
On October 7, the Gaza-Israel conflict intensified as thousands of armed Hamas supporters crossed into Israel from the Gaza Strip. In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly stated that the country is at war.
The stated aim of Israel’s intervention was to repel the attack, secure the release of more than 200 hostages including foreigners, and weaken Hamas. To support this objective, Israel launched substantial rocket campaigns against Gaza from the outset of the operation. Concurrently, the National Security Council decided to restrict the flow of water, food, goods, electricity, and fuel into the Gaza Strip.
By October 27, Israel announced a broadening of the ground operation in Gaza. By November 5, the operation intensified as IDF forces surrounded Gaza City and severed its food supply. On December 5, the third phase of the ground operation began, with units encircling Khan Younis in the southern part of the territory.
There were remarks from officials noting that the United States considered Israel’s approach in the Gaza conflict to be unusually cautious at certain moments.