Delivering Results on the Ground

Why Hamas operatives are surrendering to the IDF and what this means for the war effort.

Something is changing in the Gaza Strip and it's a sign of things to come.

With every passing day, our troops are uncovering more tunnels, more weapons and more bomb factories hidden by Hamas inside schools, mosques and homes.

The extent of the terror infrastructure developed by Hamas in Gaza is enormous.

But we're also making significant progress. We're destroying the tunnels, confiscating weapons including rockets, taking apart command and control centers and engaging terrorists at close quarters.

Our focus has been on three main areas: Shejaiya and Jabalya in the northern Gaza Strip, and Khan Yunis in the south. In each of these, we’ve made significant progress in dismantling the networks of terrorism built by Hamas which were prepared for exactly this kind of scenario.

And there is something else we're seeing now, something that started in recent days and is picking up pace: more and more terrorists are voluntarily turning themselves in to the IDF. They're coming out of their hiding places with their hands in the air and surrendering to our forces.

Those who turn themselves in are transferred to field interrogators from our specialist Unit 504 in the Intelligence Directorate and then to the Shin Bet for further questioning. This gives us access to priceless intelligence information that can direct our forces more accurately, and help us locate more terrorists and terrorist infrastructure inside in Gaza.

It also means that when suspects who are either apprehended or surrender are interrogated and found to have no connection to terrorism, we can release them.

Just to give you a sense - in recent weeks, over 350 Hamas and 120 Islamic Jihad terrorist operatives were apprehended by our forces.

So what does this tell us about the war in broader terms?

Many of the terrorists chose to surrender, realizing the fight was unwinnable. Their spirit is starting to break. They have lost contact with their commanders. The pressure from the IDF's operations against Hamas is delivering results. This is also reflected in voices we hear from Gazan civilians who are speaking out against Hamas' leadership for bringing about this terrible situation and then abandoning their people.

Of course, this isn't the end. But Hamas’ leadership inside the Gaza Strip should take note:

It’s time to release every single one of our hostages and surrender control of Gaza. Your people already are.

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Light in the Darkness

Tonight is the sixth night of Hannukah.

While IDF soldiers on the front line are not celebrating the festival with their families this year, the Hannukah lights continue to bring light and joy into the world at this time of darkness.

There were many photos taken of troops celebrating the festival on the front line, but this one really captures the spirit and energy of our soldiers. Happy Hannukah.

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Operational Updates:

Gaza Strip:

• The IDF continued its operations against Hamas, focusing both on Jabalya and Shejayia in northern Gaza, and Khan Younis in the south.

• Troops on the ground confronted various threats, ranging from gunfire from a school in the southern Gaza Strip, to an RPG training room for terrorists inside a mosque in Jabalya. Major tunnel networks and many tunnel shafts were exposed and destroyed.

• The Kerem Shalom Crossing was opened for security inspections of aid going into the Gaza Strip. This is in addition to ongoing operations at the Nitzana Crossing and in order to upgrade the capabilities and volume of security screening of the humanitarian aid being admitted via the Rafah Crossing in Egypt.

North:

• On Tuesday, a number of launches - including anti-tank missiles and mortar shells - were fired into northern Israel. The IAF Aerial Control Unit also identified a suspicious aerial target that crossed from Lebanon into Israeli territory. A number of interceptors were launched at the target and the incident was concluded.

• On Monday, Hezbollah launched rockets near a U.N. compound and a school in southern Lebanon for the second time in the past week.

Quote of the Day

"The Flotilla 3 is currently also deployed in the Red Sea area, along with the Sa'ar 6 and additional forces. In cooperation with the Israeli Air Force, we are conducting defensive operations against the enemy from the south and east."

Commander of the Missile Ship Flotilla, Captain Eldad Borochovich

That’s all from me for today.

Lt. Col. Richard Hecht