IDF announced the tragic deaths of five soldiers killed during fighting in the Gaza Strip over Shabbos R”L, bringing the death toll of soldiers in the ground offensive to 144 Korbonos R”L:
Staff Sgt. Nir Rafael Kananian HY”D, 20, of the Givati Brigade’s reconnaissance unit, from Beit Keshet.
Staff Sgt. Birhanu Kassie HY”D, 20, f the Givati Brigade’s reconnaissance unit, from Beit Shemesh.
Master Sgt. (res.) Shay Termin HY”D, 26, of the 55th Reserve Paratroopers Brigade’s 6623rd Battalion, from Rosh Pina.
Warrant Officer (res.) Alexander Shpits HY”D, 41, of the 55th Reserve Paratroopers Brigade’s 6623rd Battalion, from Karmiel.
Cpt. Oshri Moshe Butzhak HY”D, 22, a team commander in the Nahal Brigade’s reconnaissance unit, from Haifa.
Another five soldiers of the Givati Brigade’s unit were seriously wounded in the battle in which Kananian and Kassie were killed. May all have a speedy recovery.
Operational Updates:
Earlier today, a number of launches were identified crossing from Lebanon toward various areas in northern Israel.
In response, the IDF struck the sources of fire.
Additionally, throughout the day, IDF artillery struck a number of areas in Lebanon. IDF fighter jets also struck a military command center belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organization. Watch footage of the airstrike below:
The IDF announces it killed a Hamas official in charge of supply for the terror group's military wing during an airstrike in southern Gaza's Rafah yesterday.
In a statement, the IDF says Hassan al-Atrash was responsible for the supply and production of weapons for Hamas, as well… pic.twitter.com/boifRJDIDY
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) December 23, 2023
Furthermore, due to the launches fired from Lebanon toward Manara, an IDF soldier in reserves was moderately injured from the shrapnel.
IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari says the military has further expanded operations in southern Gaza, especially against Hamas’s underground infrastructure.
“Troops are engaged in heavy battles with the entry to the new Hamas strongholds,” Hagari says.
In the Khan Younis area, Hagari says the IDF is working “very heavily” against Hamas’s tunnels. “We’ve expanded combat engineering forces there… and we will expand the [99th] Division’s abilities in the coming days,” he says.
The IDF also said it has discovered some 30,000 explosives in Gaza. That’s your international aid dollars at work – buying Hamas bombs instead of building schools and hospitals for Gazans.
During operational activity in Gaza, IDF troops:
– Fired decoy shots, luring dozens of terrorists into a building that served as a Hamas headquarters and directed an IAF strike on the building, eliminating the terrorists.
– Directed IAF strikes on an armed terrorist cell in Gaza City and on 3 terrorists in in the outskirts of al-Shati, eliminating them.
– Identified terrorists attempting to attack troops and eliminated them by sniper fire, as well as located and destroyed terrorist infrastructure, including buildings used as Hamas military sites.
Thousands of Israelis stood this eveving in the pouring rain to listen to former hostages and family members of hostages. Speaking now is Rachel Goldberg whose 23-year-old son, Hersh, had his arm blown off before being taken captive.
Thousands of Israelis are standing in the pouring rain to listen to former hostages and family members of hostages.
Speaking now is Rachel Goldberg whose 23-year-old son, Hersh, had his arm blown off before being taken captive. pic.twitter.com/8BOoSyxFWk
— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) December 23, 2023
The IDF releases footage obtained from a body camera of a Hamas operative who planned to attack Israeli military engineering vehicles in the Gaza Strip, showing him being killed by troops.
The IDF releases footage obtained from a body camera of a Hamas operative who planned to attack Israeli military engineering vehicles in the Gaza Strip, showing him being killed by troops.
The IDF says troops of the elite Egoz unit operating in the Khan Younis area spotted the… pic.twitter.com/3cBJDTyflU
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) December 23, 2023
Besuros Tovos.
