Faster Movements of Israeli Forces... Dozens of Tanks and Heavy Equipment Spotted

by Keum Boryeong

Published 04 Dec.2023 21:20(KST)

Lt. Colonel Adrai urges residents to evacuate via X

The movements of the Israeli military are accelerating.

On the 7th day of the temporary ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian armed faction Hamas, on the 30th of last month (local time), Israeli troops stood on top of a tank at the Gaza Strip border area.
[Photo by AFP Yonhap News]

According to major foreign media including AFP on the 4th (local time), dozens of Israeli military tanks and heavy equipment were repeatedly observed entering the area near Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip.

Brigadier General Hisham Ibrahim, commander of the Israeli armored unit, said in an interview with military radio on the same day, "The objectives of the operation in the northern Gaza area have mostly been achieved," and explained, "We are now operating in other areas of the Gaza Strip with the single goal of eradicating Hamas."

Lieutenant Colonel Avihai Adrai, the Israeli military's Arabic spokesperson, stated on social media platform X that a large-scale military operation would take place in Khan Yunis. He also urged residents to evacuate.

Lieutenant Colonel Adrai said, "Due to the fighting, civilian movement through Salah al-Din Road in the northern and eastern districts of Khan Yunis is not permitted," and added, "Civilian movement through the western bypass of Khan Yunis will be allowed."

Earlier, Herzi Halevi, Chief of Staff of the Israeli military, officially confirmed the ground war in the southern region the previous day. He said, "Yesterday and today, we eliminated many battalion- and company-level commanders and numerous fighters of Hamas," and added, "Yesterday morning, we began the same movement in the southern Gaza Strip."

He continued, "The operation (in southern Gaza) will not be less intense compared to the northern operation," and said, "Hamas will encounter the Israeli military wherever they are."