Gaza / PNN /

 Israeli military operations continue in the southern Gaza Strip, where occupation forces carried out a series of airstrikes, detonations, and sweeping operations at dawn on Sunday in areas under their control, particularly around Rafah and Khan Younis.

Journalistic sources reported that the occupation launched six airstrikes east of Rafah, coinciding with large explosions and demolition operations east of Khan Younis inside what is known as the “Yellow Line,” the zone the Israeli army has controlled since its recent incursion.

Airstrikes also targeted the town of Bani Suheila, east of Khan Younis, within the same area, amid heavy artillery fire.

Local sources said Israeli armored vehicles stationed near the Morag axis northeast of Rafah opened intense fire as part of sweeping operations, while naval vessels shelled the city’s western coastline.

In central Gaza, local sources reported an airstrike east of Al-Bureij refugee camp, outside the areas controlled by the occupation under the first phase of the ceasefire agreement.

Israeli fighter jets also struck areas east of Gaza City, while Jabalia in the north witnessed heavy gunfire from helicopters.

Meanwhile, Israel’s Channel 12 quoted a security source saying the army expects to complete sweeping operations in the Yellow Line area—currently under its control—within the coming weeks.

The channel added that Israeli assessments indicate that Hamas still retains the ability to manufacture explosive devices and is working to rebuild its military capabilities and smuggle weapons using drones.

According to the channel, Israel informed mediators that the number of remaining Hamas fighters east of Rafah is estimated at around 50, and that they are being given the option to surrender.

Channel 12 reported that any fighter who surrenders “will be detained in Israel for a short period and then released,” on the condition that they pledge not to bear arms or engage in any military activity.

Israel continues to violate the ceasefire agreement announced on October 10, which has resulted in hundreds of martyrs and wounded over the past weeks, in addition to ongoing restrictions on the entry of food and medicine into the besieged enclave.

Sources noted that the agreement had been expected to halt a war described by international organizations as “genocidal,” which since October 2023 has left more than 70,000 Palestinians dead and 170,000 wounded, the majority of them children and women.

In parallel, the Israeli news site Walla reported that Israeli political and security officials told U.S. counterparts in closed meetings that Tel Aviv will not consider moving to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement before the recovery of all bodies of Israeli captives held in Gaza.

The site added, citing security sources, that Israel continues to exert pressure on Hamas through the United States and mediators to return the remaining bodies.

The sources said Israel’s hands are tied, noting that Washington is unlikely to allow renewed fighting at this stage as a means of pressuring Hamas to return the bodies.

According to the sources, the Americans are seeking to advance to the second phase in Gaza, and any heavy fighting could jeopardize that progress.

They added that the political leadership has not yet reviewed the scenarios prepared by the army in the event Hamas refuses to return the remaining bodies.

The sources expect Hamas to eventually hand over the remaining bodies under what they described as political pressure.