The IDF is concluding today (Monday) the special combat operation in the Hamad neighborhood and the Al Amal compound in Khan Yunis in the last ten days, in which about 300 terrorists were arrested, some of them of very high value, and about 80 terrorists were eliminated.

In one of the raids, the weapon that belonged to Yonathan Steinberg, commander of the Nahal Brigade who fell on October 7th was found.

The operation, aimed at southern Khan Yunis, caused the formation of a “pocket of terror” in the western area of Khan Yunis, which is close to the so called “humanitarian area”. Many terrorists entrenched themselves in the Towers neighborhood within a civilian population and they used it as a human shield.

The operation of Division 98 in cooperation with the Shin Bet began with an opening flight closely escorted by the ground forces, and dozens of terrorist targets were attacked in preparation for the maneuver and with the assistance of the maneuvering forces. In a quick and surprising move at the beginning of the operation to cleanse the neighborhood – above and below the ground – the forces of the 7th Israel Defense Forces and Givati surrounded the buildings , while setting off a massive fire.

Within minutes, the commando fighters emerged from several directions, surrounded areas, pushed the enemy and eliminated dozens of terrorists from a few meters away.

After the encirclement, the forces announced to the population to go to the southern “drainage” from where they were led to the humanitarian area. Magellan and Agoz units then carried out a quiet and secret encirclement that surprised the terrorists who were barricaded inside the buildings. Once the majority of the population moved south, in one night the forces managed to capture many terrorists, who surrendered in the first stage.

In the Hamad neighborhood, there are about 120 six-story buildings, with strong construction and many hiding places – which made it difficult for the IDF forces. Each floor had 4 large apartments, and the central building had a patio in the middle that created a small courtyard. But the surprise affected the terrorists ability to capture the area , and damaged their ability to fight.

Unique scanning operations by the Okets and Helam forces, together with Shayetet 13, greatly helped the success of the operation: reserve forces and mapping forces were placed in the buildings in case of an encounter that was not detected in advance.