The army also attacked an arms depot, an arms factory, and two launch sites
The Israel Defense Forces reported on Saturday that they attacked four commanders and other Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists in the Gaza Strip, in response to a ceasefire violation the previous day, when terrorists were identified emerging from tunnels in eastern Rafah.
The army also stated that it attacked a Hamas arms depot, an arms factory, and two launch sites in central Gaza.
“Terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip systematically violate international law, brutally exploiting civilian infrastructure and the population of Gaza as human shields for terrorist activities,” the IDF declared.
The army added that Jerusalem considers any violation of the agreement with “extreme seriousness” and will continue to act against any attempt to carry out terrorist attacks against IDF troops and Israeli civilians.
Soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) identified eight terrorists emerging from underground infrastructure in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, in the early hours of Thursday, leading to an airstrike that killed at least three of them, the army reported on Friday.
“”BREAKING:
? Vivid.”? (@VividProwess) January 31, 2026
Gaza is getting HAMMERED right now.
At least 4 Hamas commanders have been eliminated.
pic.twitter.com/1jpoZ5wg1w
The Israeli Air Force carried out additional strikes against areas where the remaining terrorists attempted to flee, the IDF added.
Forces operating under the Southern Command remain positioned in accordance with the ceasefire agreement with Hamas and will continue to act to eliminate any immediate danger to Israeli troops, the army stated.
The ceasefire, which came into effect on October 10, 2025, remains in force despite ongoing security incidents.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Tuesday that the Armed Forces remain focused on completing two main missions: disarming Hamas and dismantling terrorist infrastructure in Gaza.
“I now hear statements that we will allow the reconstruction of Gaza before demilitarization.
That will not happen,” Netanyahu said.
In a speech to lawmakers in the Knesset, Netanyahu stated that the disarmament of Hamas “will happen – as our friend Donald Trump said – the easy way or the hard way, but it will happen.”
However, Musa Abu Marzouk, a senior Hamas official, told Al Jazeera this week that the group never agreed to disarmament as part of the US-brokered ceasefire agreement.
“At no point did we talk about handing over weapons,” Abu Marzouk said, claiming the issue was never raised in the negotiations.
A US official told JNS that the demilitarization of Hamas remains fundamental to long-term stability in Gaza and is a key component of the ceasefire agreement.
The official stated that the US-backed National Committee for the Administration of Gaza aims to provide an alternative governing structure focused on rebuilding civilian life and stabilizing the territory.
Abu Marzouk also claimed that Hamas influenced the composition of the technocratic committee, stating to Al Jazeera that no one could enter Gaza without prior agreement with the group.
These contradictory claims come at a time when Israeli forces continue operations aimed at preventing further terrorist attacks, maintaining positions consistent with the current ceasefire agreement.
Published in 01/31/2026 21h56
Text adapted by AI (Grok) and translated via Google API in the English version. Images from public image libraries or credits in the caption.
Reference article: