The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has expanded its ground operations in northern Gaza today. The military stated that the operations aim to widen Israel’s buffer zone along the Gaza border.

"Over the past few hours, IDF troops have begun conducting ground activity in the area of Shejaiya in northern Gaza, in order to expand the security zone," the Israeli military said in a statement.

"As part of the activity, the troops eliminated numerous terrorists and dismantled Hamas terrorist infrastructure, including a command and control center that served Hamas terrorists to plan and execute terror attacks," the IDF stated.

According to Israeli forrces, they allowed the evacuation of civilians from the combat zone via organized routes for their safety during and prior to the activity.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed in video speech that last night in the Gaza Strip, the IDF was "seizing territory, striking the terrorists and destroying the infrastructure.” 

“We are now dividing the strip and increasing the pressure step by step, so that they will give us our hostages. And as long as they do not give them to us, the pressure will increase until they do.”

Four Hamas terrorists were eliminated by a precise strike in a command and control center serving as a Hamas central meeting point in Jabalia, according to IDF statement on Thursday.

Among the terrorists eliminated was Shadi Diab Abd Al-Hamid Falouji, a terrorist in Hamas' East Jabalia Battalion, who infiltrated into Israel and participated in the October 7 Massacre. 

“We are also doing something else: We are seizing the Morag Corridor. This will be the second Philadelphi, an additional Philadelphi Corridor,” Netanyahu added.

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