Hamas Official Vows to 'Break the Enemy' as Israeli Forces Battle in Gaza

The conflict between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip escalated on Friday as the battle entered its sixth month. Khaled Meshaal, a senior official in Gaza's ruling Hamas movement, expressed confidence that the ongoing battle with Israel would "break the enemy soon."

Violent Confrontations

Israeli forces engaged Palestinian militants in the north and centre of the Gaza Strip. Most Israeli troops have withdrawn from Gaza to prepare for an anticipated assault on the southern city of Rafah. Nonetheless, fighting persisted in various areas, resulting in numerous casualties and significant destruction.

Devastating Attacks

Residents of Al-Nusseirat camp in central Gaza reported heavy casualties and extensive damage following intense Israeli bombardment from air, land, and sea. The assault, which followed a surprise ground offensive on Thursday, led to the destruction of houses and two mosques. Health officials confirmed a high number of fatalities and injuries, including casualties among journalists.

In another strike, Palestinian health officials in Gaza City reported a significant number of deaths and injuries resulting from an Israeli air raid on a house in the Al-Daraj neighborhood. The Gaza health ministry revealed that 89 Palestinians had been killed by Israeli military strikes within a 24-hour period.

Israeli Response

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that they were conducting a precise, intelligence-based operation targeting militants and their infrastructure in central Gaza. IDF fighter jets and artillery targeted numerous terror sites, including underground launch posts and military facilities.

Defiant Speech

Khaled Meshaal delivered a defiant speech at an event in Doha, Qatar, mourning the Hamas members killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza. He emphasized that the current round of conflict was not the final one but a crucial step toward liberating Palestine and defeating the Zionist project.

The Gaza health ministry reported that the death toll had surpassed 33,545 since the initiation of the Israeli offensive, with a vast majority of the 2.3 million population displaced and substantial destruction across the enclave.