According to the Israeli Defense Forces, the service launched a surprise operation in Central Gaza against Hamas on April 21st, 2024 which will continue through Passover. This announcement coincides with an uptick in the last 24 hours of airstrikes and battalion-sized raids in the beleaguered city. This also flies in the face of Western media assessments that IDF operations, especially in Rafah, will not take place during the Holy Jewish Week of Passover.
In the announcement, Lt.Col Nour of the unit said:
“In the last 3 months we have met many enemies and destroyed many infrastructures. As then, also today – we continued with extensive attacks in the region, even on the eve of the holiday we will continue to act in favor of the continuation of the missions and the defense of the people of Israel. We wish everyone a quiet and peaceful holiday.”
The IDF announced that the Nahal Brigade launched the operations, focusing on anti-terror raids and airstrikes against Hamas infrastructure in the central corridor of the Gaza Strip. The 933rd “Nahal” Brigade is one of the Israel Defense Forces’ main infantry brigades and has been especially impacted in the current Gaza War. On October 7th, 2023, its commander, Lt. Col. Yonatan Steinberg was killed by Hamas invaders. On April 24th, Nochi Mandel, the chief of staff of the Nahal Brigade, was dismissed following the World Central Kitchen drone strikes that killed seven aid workers.
Israeli efforts to maintain momentum during the national holiday are key to exploiting what Hamas and Iran-backed militia groups expected to be a recuperation period for their battered forces.
