Press Briefing by IDF Spokesperson RAdm. Daniel Hagari-May 26, 2024

Good evening. This evening, with deep sorrow, we announced the deaths of Staff Sergeant Sahar Sudaei and Staff Sergeant Betzalel Zvi Kovach, may their memory be a blessing. They fell in action in the Gaza Strip. We embrace the families at this difficult time and will continue to accompany them.

IDF troops are continuing to fight in all parts of the Gaza Strip. Today, Hamas terrorists fired eight rockets from Rafah toward the Gush Dan and Sharon areas. Some were intercepted, and at some of the sites [of impact], damage occurred as a result of shrapnel from the projectiles. The launches were carried out approximately eight hundred meters from IDF troops operating in the area. As IDF troops approached, Hamas emptied the ammunition they had and launched the rockets from within the civilian population. We see this mode of operation in many places where we operate; Hamas is fearful of its ammunition and those same rockets, and they carry out launches when they see IDF troops approaching them. They fired from between a mosque and a school. We struck and destroyed the launcher shortly after the launch, and our troops are continuing to operate in the area. This is Hamas's method of carrying out terrorist activities, under the cover of the civilian population, against the citizens of the State of Israel.

In Rafah, the troops are continuing to operate precisely against terrorism, to destroy tunnel shafts, strike launchers, target terrorist infrastructure, and eliminate terrorists. In the northern Gaza Strip, IDF troops are continuing to operate in Jabaliya. Today, the forces raided terrorist infrastructure, where they located large quantities of weapons as well as documents that were transferred for intelligence investigation to be fully utilized.

Today, on the northern border, the IDF eliminated seven Hezbollah terrorists in southern Lebanon in several aerial strikes. We will continue to strike hard against all terrorist activity that Hezbollah will carry out against the territory of the State of Israel, and Hezbollah terrorists will be harmed.

Today, we mark the 233rd day of the war. In Gaza, 125 hostages are being held, and we continue all efforts to create the conditions to bring them home as quickly as possible. The ground forces are working to bring more intelligence and more information about their condition, as we have done so far. We will continue to update with all verified information in our hands.