As the IDF’s ground invasion in the Gaza Strip continues, tensions escalated in the North on Sunday, with Hezbollah wounding 21 Israelis in multiple incidents of anti-tank and mortar fire.
In one incident, 14 civilians were wounded by anti-tank fire in Dovev, including one seriously and another in critical condition. In a separate incident, seven soldiers were wounded by mortar fire in the Manara area. The IDF had not given a final tally by press time.
Other estimates of people wounded released throughout the day were all in the double digits, leading to increased speculation about whether the IDF would ramp up its counterattacks on the Iranian-proxy terrorist group or continue with the tit-for-tat policy that has been in place thus far.
Hezbollah launched other rocket attacks on the North, though most were shot down or landed in open areas. Hezbollah said it has lost 73 fighters since October 7.
IDF retaliation for Hezbollah missile attack
The IDF responded with counterattacks on the origins of the fire, as well as aerial strikes on some larger Hezbollah military installations and infrastructure.
Israel “has attack plans for the North to change the security situation there,” IDF Spokesman R.-Adm. Daniel Hagari said Sunday, adding that the evacuated northern residents would return to their homes after the war with an enhanced sense of security.
In the Gaza Strip, Shifa Hospital in Gaza City was the main hotspot of fighting on Sunday, with reports that it was under partial attack or under siege by the IDF.
Hamas, and medical officials who could be under its sway, said the situation was dire and described a partial Israeli attack. IDF sources denied any direct attack and said there was no military bar preventing the IDF from taking over Hamas’s center of military operations in and under the hospital. Any delay in such an act was due to diplomatic issues, the sources said.
The IDF said it was ready to evacuate babies from Gaza’s largest hospital on Sunday. Ashraf Al-Qidra, who represents the Hamas-run health ministry, said the hospital had suspended operations after fuel ran out. Two of the 45 babies had died in an incubator as a result, he said.
Israeli shelling had killed a patient in intensive care, Qidra said, adding that snipers on rooftops fired into the medical complex from time to time, limiting people’s ability to move.
Israeli security forces delivered 300 liters of diesel fuel to Shifa early Sunday morning and later received intelligence indicating that Hamas had intercepted the delivery, the IDF said.
The IDF released three separate recordings of the event: The first was an audio recording of an exchange between a representative of the Coordination and Liaison Administration (CLA), which implements civilian policy regarding the Israeli government’s activity in the Gaza Strip, and an official from Shifa Hospital.
The two discussed the delivery logistics, explaining where to go and how it would be conducted.“After we deliver the fuel,” the CLA representative said, “our forces will move back so that they won’t be next to the junction. You will send an ambulance to take the fuel.”
The second was a video of soldiers delivering 300 liters of fuel on Sunday morning near the hospital.
The third was a recording of a conversation between an IDF officer and a health official in Gaza. The health official said Yusef Abu Rish, director-general of the health ministry, had prevented the hospital from receiving the fuel.
“There is a problem at Shifa,” the health official said. “Be patient with me.”
“What’s the story?” a CLA representative asked.
“Abu Rish doesn’t want this amount [of fuel],” the health official said. “We are trying to convince him.”
Hagari said the military would help evacuate babies from the hospital at the request of the Shifa staff.
The IDF said doctors, patients, and thousands of evacuees who have taken refuge at hospitals in northern Gaza must leave so it can take down Hamas terrorists.
Ahmed al-Mokhallalati, a senior plastic surgeon at Shifa, told Reuters there had been continuous bombardment for more than 24 hours. Most hospital staff and people sheltering there had left, but 500 patients remained, he said.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi met with municipal leaders from the Gaza border communities on Sunday and assured them that Israel would not return to the same unstable point at the end of the current war because it would defeat Hamas.
“We did not properly prepare for a scenario” as bad as Hamas’s massive October 7 invasion, he said, adding: “We failed in our defense of the villages.”
Twenty Hamas terrorists were taken into custody to be questioned by the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) to glean new intelligence, the IDF said Sunday night.
Separately, a large Israeli military force conducted operations in the Shati refugee camp outside of Gaza City overnight between Saturday and Sunday, killing terrorists in multiple battles. In one of them, soldiers from the Givati Brigade identified numerous civilians inside a building and secured an escape route.
During the evacuation, they came under fire from terrorists. They responded with gun and tank fire and killed the terrorists, the IDF said.
In another battle, Hamas terrorists barricaded themselves inside a house. They were killed by gunfire and targeted airstrikes.
The IAF also targeted a weapons depot following a rocket launch from the site.
In a separate encounter, Nahal Brigade soldiers used a drone to target a squad of four terrorists. Three were killed, and the fourth fled into a crowded area.
In the West Bank, the IDF, Shin Bet, and Border Police detained 15 terrorist suspects, including six affiliated with Hamas, in an overnight operation, the IDF said Sunday.
The joint operation by the Israeli security forces, along with the Israel Police Counterterrorism Unit, killed Montaser Muhammad Saif, 34, in Burka, a Palestinian town. He had spent 17 years in prison for involvement in terrorist activity.
The Palestinian Authority Health Ministry in Ramallah said Saif had died from wounds inflicted by “occupation bullets,” but it made no mention of prior or current terrorist activities he may have been involved in. Saif was reportedly shot as he attempted to flee while carrying an explosive device. More explosive devices located in his vehicle and on his roof were discovered and destroyed.
Another three terrorists were arrested in Burka. They belonged to a terrorist cell responsible for several attacks, including an incident last month when an explosive device wounded a soldier. Two Carlo submachine guns were found in their possession during the operation.
In Jenin, terrorists fired at Israeli security forces, who returned fire, killing one person. Another suspect was arrested as the Israeli security personnel were leaving. Three armed explosive devices were found in their possession.
Since October 7, about 1,570 arrests have been made in the West Bank, and 950 of the terrorist suspects were affiliated with Hamas, the IDF said.
Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report.