The Israeli military claimed on Thursday that it had taken "operational control" of the Gaza port, a key piece of infrastructure in the northern Palestinian territory. A joint operation by armored and naval forces has made it possible "in recent days" to "take operational control of the port of Gaza, which was controlled by the Hamas terrorist organization," the army said in a statement.
She added that the Palestinian movement was using it "as a training center for its naval commando forces to plan and execute naval terror attacks." After assuring that it was encircling the north of the territory, the army says it is fighting in the heart of Gaza City and has announced in recent days that it has taken control of several institutions of the Islamist movement: the parliament, government buildings and military police.
The Islamist movement had downplayed the announcement, referring to "empty" buildings. Israeli troops are also intervening in Gaza's hospitals, which Israel accuses of being used by Hamas to conceal weapons and command centers.
The Israeli army continued its raid on the Gaza Strip's main hospital, al-Shifa, where thousands of Palestinian civilians are being held, on Thursday, raising serious concerns and criticism at the international level.
The war was sparked by Hamas' unprecedented attack on Israeli soil on October 7. On the Israeli side, about 1,200 people were killed, mostly civilians massacred that day, according to the authorities. In retaliation, Israel is relentlessly shelling the Gaza Strip, which is under almost total siege. Israeli shelling killed 11,500 people, mostly civilians, including 4,710 children, according to the Hamas government. Unverifiable figures.