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TEL AVIV — The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Thursday said that it has captured a key stronghold of the Hamas militant group in the Gaza Strip after a 10 hour-long battle.
In a statement, the military said the Nahal Infantry Battalion captured the stronghold named as 'Outpost 17' in the Jebaliya region.
The IDF further claimed that several Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants were killed in the fierce fighting.
The military said it also located a tunnel shaft adjacent to a kindergarten school that leads to an extensive underground route.
The fighting took place within the tunnel system as well as on the ground.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]IDF combat engineers are currently working to expose and destroy Hamas terrorist infrastructure in Gaza, including tunnels. Water and oxygen storage discovered inside the tunnels indicates Hamas' preparations for prolonged stays underground.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) November 9, 2023
130 tunnel entrances have been… pic.twitter.com/McuxQHc1b2
The military however, did not specify the number of casualties on the IDF's side.
This development comes as Israeli forces have intensified its ongoing ground offensive in Gaza against the Hamas in retaliation to its unprecedente attack on October 7.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Thursday announced that two more of its soldiers were killed in Gaza, taking the total number of troopers who have died since the ground invasion was launched on October 27 to 33.
The two soldiers were identified as Sergeant first class Eliyahu Benjamin Elmakayes (29), of Jerusalem, and Staff Sergeant Noam Yosef Abou (20), of Dimona.
According to the IDF. they were killed on Wednesday during the fierce fighting with the Hamas militants in the besieged enclave.
More than 350 Israeli soldiers have died since the Hamas launched its unprecedented attack against the Jewish nation on October 7.
Related news: IDF kills one of the masterminds of October 7 Hamas attack