IDF spokesman Vice Admiral Daniel Hagari announced that the army had “broken” Hamas’ defenses in Sejaya and Jambaliya in northern Gaza, as well as in Khan Yunis, in the southern part of the Lane, a development announced earlier by the IDF.

“In the last 48 hours, in Jambaliya, Sejaya and Khan Younis, we breached the defense lines. The terrorists are coming out of the underground and fighting our forces. And our forces win in battles from the cluster. They have the upper hand,” he said.

Responding to a question about the Prime Minister’s statements Benjamin Netanyahu, who said that IDF troops are surrounding the home of the Hamas leader, Yahya SinuarHagari noted that “Shinwar’s home is the Khan Younis region” — implying that no specific building used as Sinuar’s residence has been circled.

“Sinuar is not above the ground, it is below the ground. I will not explain exactly where and what we know. Our job is to get to Sinuar and kill him,” Hagari emphasized.

The IDF announced that its 98th Division is leading the ground offensive against Hamas in the southern Gaza Strip, in which troops have surrounded Khan Younis and are beginning to operate into it.

The 98th Division consists of parachute forces—both regular and reserve—as well as the Assault Brigade and an elite artillery regiment. The entry of the 98th Division into Gaza means there are now four divisions of the IDF operating in the Strip. The others are the 162nd, 36th and 252nd divisions, which have been operating in the enclave for several weeks.