It appears that Hamas is testing the vigilance of Israeli forces deployed in various areas in Gaza, including the buffer zone between the enclave and pre-1967 Israel along the Gaza border.
The IDF confirmed carrying out a drone strike on Sunday morning against “suspects” in vehicles traveling north in Gaza on an unauthorized road.
“The IAF fired to distance suspicious vehicles that were advancing northward from central Gaza. The vehicles were traveling along a route unauthorized for passage under the ceasefire agreement and proceeded without inspection, thus violating the terms of the agreement,” the IDF said.
Gazans are only allowed to travel north on the Salah a-Din main highway, where private US contractors inspect vehicles at a designated checkpoint.
Israeli forces also opened fire to warn away terrorists attempting to approach the soldiers elsewhere around the enclave as well, including in southern Gaza. “Several armed individuals moving toward IDF troops in the southern Gaza Strip were struck by an IAF aircraft. Hits were identified,” the IDF said.
“IDF troops [also] operated to distance several suspects who approached them and posed a threat in various areas of the Gaza Strip,” the IDF added.
Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a warning Sunday evening in response to the multiple incursions into unauthorized areas — including attempts to infiltrate the buffer zone.
“The directive to the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) is clear and unequivocal: Anyone who infiltrates the Gaza buffer zone, whether on foot or in a vehicle, is to be considered a legitimate target – and this is exactly how the IDF must act,” Katz said.
“Our duty is to protect the lives of IDF soldiers and residents of the southern communities against any threat or danger, and we will not compromise on security. We will not return to the reality of October 7th.”
The IDF has once again called on the residents of the Gaza Strip to follow IDF instructions and refrain from approaching troops deployed in the area.
