On Sunday, the Israeli military announced the deployment of additional forces around the Gaza Strip, just ahead of the first anniversary of Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel. This attack had triggered the ongoing war.
In an official statement, the Israeli military noted, “The Gaza Division has been reinforced with several battalions, with troops stationed to defend both the towns and the border area.”
The military added, “The soldiers are fully equipped to protect the region in coordination with local security forces.”
According to the statement, three units inside Gaza are currently working to “dismantle terrorist infrastructure and weaken Hamas’ capabilities.”
Southern Command leader, Major General Yaron Finkelman, emphasized that “the Southern Command remains on high alert and fully prepared for the upcoming days.”
The war in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel. This assault resulted in 1,205 Israeli deaths, according to official figures cited by AFP. The toll includes hostages who were either killed or died during captivity in Gaza.
During the attack, 251 people were kidnapped, and 97 are still being held, with 33 of them believed to have died, according to the Israeli military.
Since the war began, Israel has carried out intense airstrikes and ground operations, leading to 41,870 deaths, most of them civilians, according to the latest figures from the Gaza Health Ministry, run by Hamas.
