GAZA STRIP — Israel and Hamas' cease-fire stays in place — however the firing hasn't ceased, The Publish can reveal after being among the many first information retailers allowed into Gaza since President Trump's peace plan went into impact final month.
Throughout miles of devastation, dozens of Israeli Protection Drive positions dot the outskirts of Gaza behind the “yellow line” marking the withdrawal established below Part 1 of the plan. From there, troopers hold look ahead to Hamas militants nonetheless bent on assaults regardless of the delicate truce.
“Gaza Metropolis has lots of of 1000's of individuals — and 1000's of Hamas terrorists,” IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani informed The Publish on Wednesday. “The one factor standing between these Hamas terrorists and our civilians only a two-minute drive away is the IDF troopers right here.”
Nearer to town, the yellow line is breached repeatedly by armed Hamas operatives, typically with lethal penalties, Shoshani mentioned. For the reason that cease-fire started, three Israeli troopers have been killed in assaults that occurred regardless of the truce, with the IDF responding to every violation.
“We've seen Hamas take a look at us every day, then they declare Israel is attacking civilians,” he mentioned. “Our operations are in opposition to violations — in opposition to Hamas once they cross or assault and kill troops.”
The battlefield is a stark, haunting sight. Gaza Metropolis looms within the distance with towering buildings, whereas close by neighborhoods are totally obliterated — leaving solely concrete blocks and dirt the place residences and retailers as soon as stood. The Publish was unable to evaluate the human toll firsthand, because the IDF wouldn't escort reporters throughout the yellow line.
“We haven't crossed the yellow line,” Shoshani mentioned. “We've got solely acted when Hamas violated the settlement — whether or not it's crossing the road or killing our troopers. We responded closely to each violation.”
The truce, brokered with US help, was meant to deliver stability, enable hostages to be returned, and allow humanitarian help. However Hamas has but to comply with Part 2 of the plan — disarmament — and Shoshani mentioned the militants proceed to “take a look at” Israel, risking renewed battle.
“What must occur now's Hamas must do their a part of the settlement,” he mentioned. “All hostages ought to have been returned inside 72 hours — that deadline handed a month in the past. Hamas must cease testing us, and Hamas must disarm.”
Israel stays dedicated to the cease-fire, he mentioned, and has pulled again behind the yellow line, now marked with massive concrete blocks. However militants proceed trying to creep towards Israeli positions.
“In these areas, when there's suspicious exercise, we act in opposition to it,” Shoshani mentioned. “We test it. We're demolishing, exploding, or filling tunnels with concrete.”
Hamas spent years developing tunnels beneath civilian houses — a technique that makes Gaza's eventual reconstruction extraordinarily troublesome. When Israelis destroyed an internet of underground passages, the buildings above crumbled.
“This space must don't have any extra tunnels, no extra terror infrastructure, and no extra terrorists,” he mentioned. “That's the principle level shifting ahead — and it doesn't appear to be Hamas has modified their agenda.”
Whereas Hamas has not dedicated to Part 2 and continues trying to impress Israel, Shoshani mentioned worldwide strain may drive compliance.
“Hamas isn't going to disarm themselves — somebody's going to need to make them,” he mentioned. “There's an enormous coalition of nations dedicated to this settlement, and strain from totally different companions may be efficient.”
Shoshani emphasised that Israel won't ever enable a repeat of Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists massacred greater than 1,200 folks and kidnapped lots of.
“We are able to by no means enable that to be the truth once more,” he mentioned. “This area can by no means transfer ahead if Hamas stays in energy. If there are nonetheless terrorists in Gaza, there may be no reconstruction, no rebuilding, and no stability.”
From a frontline place close to what was as soon as the Gaza city of Sajaiya, Shoshani pointed throughout the devastated terrain.
“You'll be able to see all the Gaza envelope group from right here,” he mentioned. “On Oct. 7, inside 60 seconds, folks from Sajaiya have been in a position to infiltrate Israel and homicide folks inside a minute or two.”
The Sajaiya space itself was closely infested with tunnels, explosives, and IEDs.
“We got here again to battle right here a number of occasions, with Hamas returning to those positions time and again,” Shoshani mentioned. “In latest weeks, we've seen Hamas violate the settlement on this space, crossing in an armed method with makes an attempt to hold out assaults. We've additionally seen hostages returned from this space, and there are nonetheless ongoing operations to search for extra hostages.”
IDF positions sit 100–200 meters from the yellow line, Shoshani mentioned, deliberately permitting time to warn those that cross to show again or face gunfire.
“The general public crossing proper now are Hamas,” he mentioned. “Within the few instances it's not, we warn them, and so they return. Israel doesn't routinely open fireplace. There's distance — time to warn and provides folks a chance to show round.”
However Hamas continues to use these warnings.
“We've seen Hamas take a look at us every day. Then they declare Israel is attacking civilians. Israel has not crossed the yellow line as soon as. Our operations are in opposition to violations — in opposition to Hamas, once they cross or assault and kill troops.”
Shoshani mentioned Israel's coverage is obvious: shield civilians whereas stopping Hamas assaults.
“What's vital for People to know is that Israel is dedicated to the settlement. We've moved again to the yellow line and haven't moved in as soon as. Support goes in, and we're holding our positions. However we can't enable jihadi terrorists to be a minute or two away from our grandmothers and kids ever once more.”
“Hamas hopes folks overlook what occurred on Oct. 7,” he added. “They hope individuals are content material with this settlement to allow them to keep armed in Gaza. However this area can by no means transfer ahead if Hamas is in energy. A greater future — for us and for Gazans — is one with out Hamas.”
