The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced this morning, August 29th, at 10:00 AM UTC, a continuation of ground maneuvering and offensive activities in the Gaza Strip, specifically designating the Gaza City region as a dangerous fighting area due to ongoing military operations. The announcement came alongside a decision for a local and temporary tactical ceasefire, excluding military activities in Gaza City. This development follows intensified air force attacks in Gaza City, as documented by Hamza Al-Masri. Satellite imagery from The New York Times, captured between August 8th and August 25th, reveals extensive destruction in the Zaytoun neighborhood of Gaza City. The Nahal Brigade, operating in the Zeanon neighborhood and wicker axis in northern Gaza, identified and eliminated a terrorist squad in a military structure approximately 100 meters away, with the support of the air force, according to the IAF. In a separate development, the body of Ilan Weiss, 55, from Kibbutz Barry, who was murdered on October 7th, was recovered in the Gaza Strip. Hamas's internal security mechanism has reportedly warned against a new IDF method of identifying and eliminating military activists by contacting their families, who may then inadvertently reveal the activist's location. Meanwhile, fighters from the 82nd Battalion, operating in the "Mid-Summer" Operation, have reported success in eliminating tunnels, frustrating approximately 60 terrorists, and identifying key administrators. They also discovered a tunnel crossing the main axis of Zeitun. In Rafah, local leaders in Hamas-free zones are piloting religious education programs for peace, with one leader stating, "Hamas stole our children from us in the name of Islam. Today, we take a step toward reclaiming them," as reported by Amit Segal via PeaceComCenter. The Jerusalem Post reported yesterday that an IDF invasion of Gaza City could be imminent after weeks of deliberation. The 82nd Battalion's operations have also led to the discovery of 7 large ventral charges on a single axis section, each capable of destroying a tank or a vehicle. Soldiers from Brigade 7, along with Givati's accumulation, are reportedly receiving abundant fire resources, collection, contracts, and shells.
