Following a barrage of overnight airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip, the IDF has reinforced its presence by deploying an additional division to the region. Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that the military is intensifying its campaign targeting Hamas.

In a statement, Katz outlined the escalation of IDF efforts, declaring that Israel is broadening its operations in Gaza. “Troops will move to clear areas of terrorists and infrastructure, and capture extensive territory that will be added to the State of Israel’s security areas,” he said. He also urged Gazans “to act now to overthrow Hamas and return all the hostages.”

Palestinian sources reported a significant series of strikes overnight in Rafah and Khan Younis, with accounts this morning indicating that IDF troops were pushing forward into Rafah. Earlier this week, on Monday, the IDF issued a sweeping evacuation notice covering all of Rafah and a broad swath of land stretching between Rafah and Khan Younis—an area where ground forces had not previously operated.

Last month, the IDF disclosed that its 36th Division had been assigned to the Southern Command to gear up for Gaza operations. That division moved into southern Gaza this morning, aligning with the expanded offensive against Hamas. Katz reiterated the mission’s objectives, stating that troops will focus on eliminating “terrorists and infrastructure, and capture extensive territory that will be added to Israel’s security areas.”

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