Gaza Conflict: Israel continues offensive against Hamas, seizes large amounts of weapons

The Israel Defence Forces announced on Friday morning that troops discovered and destroyed missile launchers and other weaponry as Israel continued its offensive against Hamas on Thursday night. Troops discovered a Hamas weapons stockpile in the village of Jahar al-Dikh in central Gaza. Additionally, soldiers saw rocket launchers that had before been used to fire rockets onto Israel. An airstrike destroyed the launchers. Large quantities of weapons, including explosives and mortars, were discovered inside a home adjacent to a daycare by Israeli soldiers conducting operations in Gaza City. A rocket-propelled grenade on a windowsill ready to be launched and a rocket launcher pointed towards Israel were found in another neighbouring property. Soldiers in Khan Yunis discovered a plethora of weaponry within a residential house, including battle gear, explosive charges, firearms, ammunition, and military uniforms. In the meantime, an Israeli-threatening terror unit was hit by an Air Force fighter jet under ground force command, killing a Hamas terrorist who was planting explosive charges. The terrorists’ tunnel entrance was destroyed by engineering forces, who also detonated a rocket-propelled grenade from it. The IDF further stated that during the past two days, raids on the facilities at a school where Hamas units operated on the fringes of Al Shati in northern Gaza have been conducted by forces acting on intelligence advice. Numerous guns, ammunition, and Hamas maps were discovered by the soldiers. The actions are being taken a day after the IDF said that it had finished capturing the Shejaiya region in northern Gaza. On October 7, Hamas attacked Israeli villages close to the Gaza border, killing at least 1,200 people. It is now estimated that Hamas has 129 men, women, children, military, and foreigners in their custody in Gaza. While Israeli police continue to identify dead and look for human remains, some persons are still missing. (With agency inputs)