![](https://middayonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Untitled-1-copy-378.jpg)
Tel Aviv: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Tuesday it had surrounded the Jabalya area of the Gaza Strip, considered one of Hamas’ strongholds.
The IDF said in a statement that its artillery unit from the 215th Brigade and its airstrikes also helped encircle the area.
“The IDF has destroyed terrorist infrastructure with combined strikes from the ground as well as from the air,” it said.
The statement said that the combat forces of the 551st Division opened the way for other battalions with special forces to enter Jabalya and repel the attack by Hamas men.
“The IDF destroyed several tunnel shafts and captured several buildings from where Hamas operated after killing several members of the terrorist organization,” the statement said.
The IDF began a ground offensive on the Gaza Strip on 27 October and has now reached the core of Gaza and taken control of the al-Shifa hospital complex, which it claims is the site of Hamas operations, including the underground tunnel network. Was the center.