Fighters from the 7th Brigade's combat team, which broke through to Khan Yunis, are fighting in the area. The forces raided the office of the Khan Yunis Brigade commander and the terrorist infrastructure and underground in the area, reached the central Bani Suheila square in the heart of Khan Yunis and gained operational control over it.
Fighting the 7th Brigade's combat team in Khan Yunis, photo: IDF Spokesperson
During the battles this past week, the brigade's fighters eliminated many terrorists, some of whom were killed by tank fire and exposed about 30 tunnel shafts. In addition, they attacked and destroyed dozens of anti-tank positions and observation posts, confiscated grenade and RPG weapons, and located many intelligence devices such as telephones, computers and terrorist instruction leaflets.
Fighters of the battle team raided the Hamas outpost of the Deir al-Balah Battalion and confiscated intelligence and military manuals belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization. The fighters also raided the apartment of the Nukhba terrorist and found weapons, control equipment and naval equipment in his home.
Fighting the 7th Brigade's combat team in Khan Yunis, photo: IDF Spokesperson
The 7th Brigade Commander, Colonel Elad Zuri, reported that the brigade has been fighting for more than two months, eliminating terrorists and defending the communities in the envelope. The brigade, which began the maneuver with the 36th Division, was responsible for finding weapons, as well as terrorist infrastructure. Among other things, the battle team was part of bringing Yehudit Weiss z"l and observer Noa Marciano z"l to the burial.
"This is a just war"
Col. Zuri added that the brigade's combat teams took part in the battles at Shifa and the Qatari hospital and also took part in blowing up the underground medium under the hospitals.
7th Brigade Commander, Colonel Elad Zuri: "The IDF's brigade and spearhead continues to destroy the enemy in the heart of Gaza City" // IDF Spokesperson
Among the weapons seized were many sound devices, as well as photographic footage of one of the terrorists who participated in the October 7 massacre. Zuri went on to report that the brigade had found weapons and tunnels inside the vacation homes of senior Hamas figures, and that although terrorists were still encountered in the area, the brigade managed to gain operational control over large areas in Khan Yunis.
"Even though we have quite a few fatalities, we continue to fight," Zuri said. "I am proud of each and every one of the fighters, as well as the medical teams that accompany us and the significant air support that also evacuates wounded from the field."
Equipment and weapons found in the home of a naval Nukhba operative: Photo: IDF Spokesperson
"Morale is high, it is clear to us that this is a historic period and a significant part of the legacy of the 7th Brigade," added Col. Zuri. "We are proud to write another chapter in this legacy."
"We will not let October 7 happen again"
The brigade operates as part of the goals of the war to topple the Hamas regime and bring the abductees home.
Equipment and weapons found in the home of a naval Nukhba operative: Photo: IDF Spokesperson
Col. Zuri explained that the operation above ground was part of a broader IDF activity and clarified that the brigade had learned lessons from the tragic incident in Sejaiya. He stressed that the fighting, as well as the incident itself, "sharpens the complexity of things."
Colonel Zuri went on to emphasize: "The backbone of the fighters is strong and solid. We are dealing with difficult events. There are incidents where we enter a house and find people there, many times it's a lot of children. It's a complex situation and I'm proud of how the fighters handled the situation."
IDF activity in Khan Yunis, photo: IDF Spokesperson
"This is a just war," Col. Zuri concluded. "We are here to restore security to the State of Israel. We fight so that we can raise our children quietly, so that the residents of the envelope can return to their homes peacefully, and we do so out of a deep mission. When the situation is difficult, we make sure to remind ourselves of the October 7 massacre – we will not let it happen again."
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