Israel Attacks Central Gaza, Tanks Destroy In Rafah

Rafah Gaza/DOK UNRWA

JAKARTA - Israeli forces attacked territory in the Gaza Strip, killing nine Palestinians, according to health officials.

Meanwhile, Israeli tanks carried out limited attacks further on the Rafah in the south.

Over the past 24 hours, Israeli attacks have killed at least 81 Palestinians and injured 198 people, Gaza's Ministry of Health said.

The ministry does not differentiate between militants and civilians in the number of victims.

In one Israeli airstrike about midnight against homes in Al-Zawyda in the central Gaza Strip, eight people were killed, health officials said.

In Rafah, where medics said two people were killed in airstrikes, tanks carried out attacks in the north of the city before withdrawing, a tactic used by Israeli troops in other areas before carrying out further attacks.

The Israeli military said its forces were continuing the proper intelligence-based operational activities in the Rafah region.

The Israeli military claims to have eliminated what it calls a terrorist cell and a launcher used to shoot troops.

Airstrikes hit 25 targets across the Gaza Strip over the past day and troops continued to operate in the central region, in part to dismantle buildings used to observe soldiers.

Nine months after the war, Palestinian fighters led by the Hamas Islamist group were still able to attack Israeli troops with anti-tank rockets and mortar bombs, and occasionally fired a series of rockets at Israel.

Israel's defense minister said the military had made significant progress and the pressure was successful.

Operation in Gaza has resulted in necessary conditions to reach an agreement on the return of hostages, said Israeli Defense Minister Yooav Gallant

Israel vowed to eradicate Hamas after its militants killed 1,200 people and held more than 250 people hostage in the attack on October 7, according to Israeli tallies.