Israel Confirms It Struck Refugee Camp, Killing Hamas Commander
By Worthy News’ George Whitten and Stefan J. Bos
GAZA/JERUSALEM(Worthy News) – Israel’s army said Tuesday it suffered its first casualties in Gaza, where it hit a refugee camp and killed a “commander” of “terrorist organization Hamas” and “many other terrorists.”
The two deceased soldiers, Roei Wolf and Lavi Lipshitz, both 20 years of age, were killed in a battle in northern Gaza, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed, adding that their families were notified.
News of their deaths came as the Hamas-run health ministry claimed dozens were killed in an Israeli air strike at the Jabalia refugee camp. The IDF confirmed the strike but said it killed Ibrahim Biari, who led Hamas’s central Jabalia battalion and fellow fighters.
The IDF stressed that the airstrike in Jabalia was part of “a wide-scale strike” on Hamas operatives and infrastructure belonging to the group’s Central Jabaliya Battalion.
However, the Hamas-run health ministry claimed 50 people were killed and 150 injured, but Israel suggested there were “many” Hamas “terrorists” among them. The death toll could not be verified independently.
IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari defended the operation, saying the Israeli military “managed to eliminate the terrorist murderer Ibrahim Biari” on Tuesday.
LEADER OF COMBAT
Biari was “the main leader of combat” since Israel forces entered northern Gaza, Hagari said. During his “elimination, many terrorists were killed,” he said.
He said the targeting of the building where Biari was also “led to the collapse of other things because there was a very extensive infrastructure there,” referring to possible civilian casualties.
Israel’s military said the strike that killed Bari and several other Hamas fighters caused underground terror tunnels to collapse, bringing down several nearby buildings.
Israel, which has accused Hamas of hiding between civilians, said those targeted were partly responsible for the October 7 massacres of 1,400 people in Israel.
The battles around Jabalia were among broader Israeli actions deep inside Gaza as Israel’s war against Hamas intensified Tuesday.
The United States announced it would send 300 more troops to the Middle East, but not to Israel, to provide support and “bolster U.S. force protection capabilities.” It has also sent several warships to the region to protect its forces in the area following several Iranian-linked drone strikes and to back up Israel, U.S. officials say.
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