NEW DELHI: The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have conducted a major operation in the Shejaiya neighbourhood of Gaza City, eliminating at least 40 Hamas militants and destroying several of the group's underground tunnels. The IDF's 98th Division, comprising the 7th Armored Brigade and Paratroopers Brigade, is leading the current operation in Shejaiya, Gaza City. 

According to the IDF, the operation was prompted by intelligence indicating that Hamas operatives were regrouping in the Shejaiya area and rebuilding their infrastructure.

The military launched the targeted strike on a school compound that had been repurposed by Hamas as a "combat complex," uncovering a long-range rocket launcher and other previously unknown facilities. 

The IDF said the operation involved robust resistance from Hamas, including RPG fire, explosives, sniper attacks, and close-quarters combat. Two Israeli soldiers were killed and two others seriously injured during the clashes in Shejaiya. 

Military assessments suggested that the surviving Hamas members in northern Gaza have converged in Shejaiya, bolstering their ranks with new recruits.

The IDF operation has enabled the discovery of previously unknown tunnel networks and other Hamas infrastructure in the area.

The Shejaiya mission is part of the IDF's ongoing efforts to disrupt Hamas activities and infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. The military has characterised the operation as intelligence-driven and targeted, aiming to eliminate the group's presence and capabilities in the region. 
While the IDF has not provided an exact timeline, the Shejaiya operation is expected to conclude within a few weeks, similar to previous targeted strikes in northern Gaza. The military is determined to degrade Hamas's capacity to threaten Israeli civilians and security.