Israel Defense Forces reports show a rapid escalation in the Gaza Strip with senior commanders confirming the dispatch of air power to strike a broad set of targets linked to Hamas. Within 24 hours, authorities say, roughly 250 targets associated with the radical Palestinian movement were struck across Gaza. The focus was on eliminating active fighters, destroying missile launch sites, and degrading the broader terrorist infrastructure that supports operations in the region. The intent, according to official statements, was to degrade Hamas capabilities and disrupt the group’s ability to coordinate across key urban and rural pockets within Gaza.
During the night of November 21, the Israeli military conducted a strike aimed at the Hamas outpost from which rockets had been launched toward central Israel the previous day. The military asserts that this outpost lies near civilian infrastructure and poses a threat to nearby communities. The operation follows a pattern of targeted actions designed to suppress rocket fire and to degrade the militant network operating in the area.
In separate engagements, Israeli ground forces reportedly located a significant amount of weapons in a residence in Gaza. A senior member of Hamas’s Nukhba naval commando unit is described as having been identified in connection with these searches, underscoring the perceived risk posed by specialized units within the organization. In another startling discovery, an anti-tank missile was found concealed beneath a child’s cradle in one of the homes under examination, highlighting the alleged danger to civilians living in the affected zones.
The broader conflict has its roots in a dramatic and deadly confrontation that began on October 7 with Hamas initiating Operation Al-Aqsa Flood and crossing into Israeli territory. This event prompted a formal response from Israel, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declaring that the country was at war and pledging to confront Hamas with sustained force. The stated aim of Israel’s campaign, described as Operation Iron Sword, has been to repel the attack, secure the release of more than 200 hostages including foreign nationals, and ultimately dismantle Hamas’s capabilities within the area.
From the outset of the operation, Israel launched a sustained rocket campaign against targets in Gaza. Concurrently, the National Security Council directed measures that restricted the flow of essential supplies into the Gaza Strip, cutting water, food, goods, electricity, and fuel to various sectors. Humanitarian aid shipments began moving through the Rafah crossing only after October 20, yet observers noted that the volume of aid remained insufficient for the needs currently faced by civilians. The situation has complicated any ongoing efforts to stabilize living conditions for residents amid continuing hostilities.
On October 27, Israel signaled an expansion of the ground operation in Gaza. The exact timing of the operation’s initiation remains unclear to observers, but it is known that hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled their homes and relocated to shelters in southern regions in the preceding days. By November 5, Israeli ground forces had surrounded Gaza City and repeatedly cut off supplies to the broader central Gaza area while fighting continued in several districts around the city. The conflict has drawn in multiple fronts and created a complex humanitarian crisis that has persisted into the winter months.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has repeatedly asserted a commitment to dismantling Hamas and to ensuring Israel’s security in the wake of the attacks. The aims articulated by Israeli leadership emphasize the removal of Hamas’s governing and military capabilities, a goal pursued through a combination of military pressure, strategic deterrence, and international humanitarian considerations that seek to protect civilian lives where possible while maintaining pressure on militant operations.