The Israeli army has acknowledged that Hamas’ military capabilities in Beit Hanoun remain largely intact, local media reported on Monday, as 16 Israeli occupation soldiers were killed in the area in recent days, Anadolu reported.
“The town of Beit Hanoun claimed the lives of five Israeli soldiers today [Monday], joining ten other soldiers killed in the town … within a week only,” said a report by the newspaper Israel Hayom.
According to the newspaper, the number of Israeli soldiers killed since the increased military campaign began in northern Gaza in early October 2024 has risen to 55, with 16 deaths in Beit Hanoun alone.
“There is now an unimaginable number of Israeli fatalities in Beit Hanoun,” an unnamed Israeli army officer told the newspaper.
The report noted that the military now concedes that Hamas’ local command network remains operational and that its commanders can still issue attack orders.
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