{"id":86790,"date":"2025-03-23T11:03:03","date_gmt":"2025-03-23T16:03:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/?p=86790"},"modified":"2025-03-23T11:03:03","modified_gmt":"2025-03-23T16:03:03","slug":"idf-expands-ground-operations-throughout-gaza","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/idf-expands-ground-operations-throughout-gaza\/","title":{"rendered":"IDF expands ground operations throughout Gaza"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>(<em>JNS.org<\/em>) \u2013&nbsp;&nbsp;The Israel Defense Forces announced on Sunday that it has expanded military operations in both northern and southern Gaza, including the encirclement of Tel al-Sultan in Rafah and an offensive in Beit Hanun.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_86791\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IDF_forces_Mar23.webp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-86791\" class=\"wp-image-86791 size-medium lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IDF_forces_Mar23-300x200.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IDF_forces_Mar23-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IDF_forces_Mar23-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IDF_forces_Mar23-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IDF_forces_Mar23.webp 1320w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/200;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-86791\" class=\"wp-image-86791 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IDF_forces_Mar23-300x200.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IDF_forces_Mar23-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IDF_forces_Mar23-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IDF_forces_Mar23-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IDF_forces_Mar23.webp 1320w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-86791\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">An Israeli soldier during military activity in the Rafah area of southern Gaza on March 23, 2025. (Credit: IDF)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cIDF forces, led by Southern Command, have been operating in recent days across the Gaza Strip,\u201d the military stated on Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs part of the operation under the guidance of the Military Intelligence Directorate and the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), the forces have destroyed terror infrastructure and launchers, eliminating dozens of terrorists,\u201d the army stated, adding that its 252nd and 143rd divisions were \u201coperating in several locations to expand the security perimeter.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Aircraft and naval vessels of the Israeli Air Force and Israeli Navy, respectively, \u201ccontinue to strike targets and provide close support to the ground forces,\u201d according to the IDF statement.<\/p>\n<p><strong>IDF encircles Tel al-Sultan<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In recent hours, IDF troops completed the encirclement of the Tel al-Sultan camp in&nbsp;Rafah&nbsp;as part of efforts to dismantle terrorist infrastructure and eliminate Hamas operatives in the area. The operation aims to strengthen control and expand the security buffer in southern Gaza, the military said.<\/p>\n<p>As part of the operations in the southern Strip, the IDF on Saturday night killed Salah Bardawil, who was described as the head of the terrorist organization\u2019s \u201cplanning and development office\u201d in Gaza.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBardawil served as a senior terrorist in Hamas\u2019s political bureau, and as part of his role, directed the strategic and military planning of Hamas,\u201d the IDF said.<\/p>\n<p>During the night, troops surrounded the area, neutralized terrorists and carried out a targeted raid on a Hamas command and control center that had been used in recent months.<\/p>\n<p>The IDF emphasized that&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.jns.org\/israel-establishes-new-body-to-assist-gazans-seeking-to-emigrate\/\">civilians<\/a>&nbsp;are being allowed to evacuate the combat zone via designated routes.<\/p>\n<p>IDF Arabic-language spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee published a map on X on Sunday, identifying the designated evacuation zone and warning that the area is now an active combat zone.<\/p>\n<p><strong>IDF troops enter Beit Hanun in northern Gaza<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Simultaneously, IDF soldiers have entered&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.jns.org\/idf-intensifies-operations-in-beit-hanoun-honors-fallen-soldiers\/\">Beit Hanun<\/a>&nbsp;in the northeastern Gaza Strip to dismantle Hamas\u2019s terror infrastructure and expand the security buffer in the region.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"media-oembed-video\">\n<div class=\"twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered\"><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-2\" title=\"X Post\" data-src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?dnt=true&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-2&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1903709255435272277&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jns.org%2Fidf-expands-ground-operations-in-gaza-north-and-south%2F&amp;sessionId=63e2e1b0bca2a43b0b20a685eb2b4878e3a7414a&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-tweet-id=\"1903709255435272277\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"lazyload\" data-load-mode=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>As part of this operation, the IDF is facilitating the evacuation of civilians from the combat zone.<\/p>\n<p>Israeli Air Force fighter jets have conducted&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.jns.org\/idf-strikes-launch-site-in-gaza-after-rocket-fire-on-ashkelon\/\">strikes<\/a>&nbsp;on Hamas positions and terrorist infrastructure in support of the ground offensive.<\/p>\n<div style=\"padding-bottom:20px; padding-top:10px;\" class=\"hupso-share-buttons\"><!-- Hupso Share Buttons - https:\/\/www.hupso.com\/share\/ --><a class=\"hupso_toolbar\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hupso.com\/share\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/buttons\/share-medium.png\" style=\"border:0px; padding-top: 5px; float:left;\" alt=\"Share Button\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/buttons\/share-medium.png\" style=\"border:0px; padding-top: 5px; float:left;\" alt=\"Share Button\"\/><\/noscript><\/a><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var hupso_services_t=new Array(\"Twitter\",\"Facebook\",\"Google Plus\",\"Pinterest\",\"Linkedin\",\"Tumblr\",\"Email\");var hupso_background_t=\"#EAF4FF\";var hupso_border_t=\"#66CCFF\";var hupso_toolbar_size_t=\"medium\";var hupso_image_folder_url = \"\";var hupso_url_t=\"\";var hupso_title_t=\"IDF%20expands%20ground%20operations%20throughout%20Gaza\";<\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/js\/share_toolbar.js\"><\/script><!-- Hupso Share Buttons --><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":86791,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[14505,8781,8790,8795,8788,5824,14506],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86790"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=86790"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86790\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":86792,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86790\/revisions\/86792"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/86791"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=86790"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=86790"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=86790"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}