The Israel Defense Forces is preparing "to expand the operation into new areas" in the Gaza Strip, with an emphasis on southern Gaza, IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said Friday in a media briefing.
"We’re approaching the final stages of gaining operational control over the north (of the Gaza Strip)," Hagari claimed.
Other signs of expansion Friday: Earlier today, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant pointed toward Israeli military operations in Khan Younis and other parts of southern Gaza, outlining the military's plans to operate in other places in Gaza "in the future."
The IDF also ordered the residents of the Al-Bureij refugee camp in Deir al-Balah and several other areas in central Gaza to move to shelters for safety, signaling a new focus of the ground offensive and a potentially widening military operation in the enclave.
On targeting top Hamas officials: The Israeli defense minister also reiterated Israel's promise to eliminate Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in his remarks Friday.
In response to a question about targeted killings of Hamas senior officials, the spokesperson Hagari said, "Our job is to kill all of them. This takes intelligence."
Hagari said the IDF is working with Israel’s domestic security agency, the Shin Bet, adding that "they have teams working on this all the time. Once there’s an opportunity, we perform."