Hamas working to reclaim weaponry, reestablish military control over Gaza, IDF says - report

Hamas has been operating to reclaim its weaponry and reestablish military control over the Gaza Strip, despite the ongoing ceasefire and disarmament agreement, N12 News reported on Wednesday, citing IDF sources.

"Recently, Hamas terrorists have been reaching weapons depots and using the weapons inside to carry out surveillance and establish control over the Gaza Strip," a senior security source told the outlet.

Meanwhile, the IDF and the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) destroyed three Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad weapon storage facilities and a launch pit from which rockets were fired toward Israel throughout the war in precise strikes on the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, the military announced on Wednesday. 

Dozens of different weapons were stored inside the facilities, including rockets and Kalashnikov rifles, among other combat equipment.

Hamas terrorists had been using the stored weapons to carry out operations and establish control in Gaza recently, according to the IDF.

Advance warnings were issued to the population ahead of the strikes in order to mitigate the risk to civilians, the military said.

Netanyahu vows to continue eliminating threats

This comes a week after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue eliminating threats to Israel from Gaza during a visit to an IDF outpost near the Yellow Line. 

"We control 60% of the Strip, and there is more to come because we are eliminating the terrorists who threaten us," he said, stressing that efforts to disarm Hamas will continue until completed.