RNS: Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that they carried out a targeted airstrike on an underground complex concealed beneath the Al-Ansar mosque in the city of Jenin, located in the West Bank.
The IDF claims that members of the Islamic Jihad and Hamas movements were using this underground facility for a variety of purposes, including organizing and carrying out terrorist activities.
In a statement posted on the messaging platform Telegram IDF said (provided details about the operation): “In a joint IDF and ISA (Israel Securities Authority) activity, the IDF conducted an aerial strike on an underground terror compound in the Al-Ansar mosque in Jenin.”
The statement further elaborated that the mosque had been utilized as a “terror cell” by operatives from Hamas and Islamic Jihad, who were reportedly in the process of organizing an imminent terror attack.
Furthermore, it was revealed that these individuals had repurposed the mosque as a command center for planning attacks and as a base for executing their plans. This action by the IDF reflects the ongoing security concerns and efforts to neutralize threats posed by these groups.
Simultaneously, Palestinian news agency WAFA reported on the tragic consequences of Israeli airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip. An airstrike on a cafe in the city of Khan Yunis resulted in at least 10 casualties and numerous injuries. Additionally, on the previous day, 29 people lost their lives due to Israeli airstrikes in various parts of the Gaza Strip.
This series of events comes after the massive rocket attack by the Palestinian organization Hamas against Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7th, during which they breached the border, killed people, and kidnapped people living in Israeli communities close to the border.
In response, Israel initiated retaliatory strikes and imposed a comprehensive blockade on the Gaza Strip, home to over two million residents. This blockade initially included restrictions on the supply of essentials such as water, food, and fuel. However, it was later eased to permit humanitarian aid trucks to enter the Gaza Strip.
