Israel conducts limited ground raids to rescue hostages in Gaza

RAFAH

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Oct. 22 said that its troops have carried out limited ground forays in Gaza to locate and rescue hostages held by Hamas and to wipe out militant cells.

The Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari stated that the overnight raids were carried out “by armored and infantry forces.”

Addressing a press briefing, Hagari noted that the ground raids were intended to kill Hamas militants, who were preparing for the next phases of war.

He also pointed out that the Israeli forces have been trying to find information on hostages being held in the Gaza Strip by Hamas.

“An IDF soldier was killed, one was moderately injured and two were slightly injured as a result of an anti-tank missile launched toward an IDF tank and an engineering vehicle," he said.

The IDF spokesperson also cited that the number of hostages in Gaza, as per the latest information, stands at 222, citing that there are “quite a lot” of foreigners among the captives, which is why it took time to confirm the number.

Hamas hopes to trade the captives for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

The limited ground raid could be a trial before the full-scale ground assault the IDF hinted it will launch to wipe out Hamas, the reports claimed, noting that questions are now being raised over the delay in ground operation.

According to reports, U.S. officials have been putting pressure on Israeli authorities to delay the planned assault in order to secure the release of more hostages.

Moreover, a Times of Israel report said, “The Biden administration also wants to increase preparedness for any potential attacks on U.S. targets in the region from Iran-based groups, which it believes are likely to increase as the war goes on.”

Israel has been saying that a delay in the ground assault will give Hamas more time to prepare and hide its assets deep inside the vast underground tunnel network it has created over the years.

The IDF also announced on Oct. 23 that it had struck 320 militant targets throughout Gaza over the last 24 hours. It said it had destroyed anti-tank positions and other targets that could endanger forces preparing for “a maneuver in the Gaza Strip,” an apparent reference to a ground operation.

Heavy Israeli airstrikes and shelling continued overnight across Gaza, the Hamas-run Interior Ministry said. It said airstrikes hit residential apartments in the town of Khan Younis and the Nuseirat refugee camp, both of which are south of the evacuation line.

The Palestinian Red Crescent medical service reported heavy overnight airstrikes near al-Quds hospital in Gaza City. Aside from patients, the hospital houses more than 12,000 displaced people, it said.

Tensions are also high in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where over 90 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war, mainly during violent protests and gun battles during military arrest raids. Two Palestinians were shot dead during a raid into the Jalazone refugee camp early yesterday, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.

The war that broke out after the brutal Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel by Hamas militants has killed more than 1,400 people in Israel and nearly 4,500 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.