The Israeli military said on Sunday it had invested a compound in Gaza used by Hamas to prepare for an October 7 attack. “The al-Qatsia compound served as a Hamas training center for training terrorists,” the army said in a statement, citing kibbutz entrances, military bases and vehicles specific to Israeli armored vehicles.

Soldiers also entered the office of Mohammed Shinowar, one of the commanders of Hamas' armed wing, al-Qassam Brigades. He is the brother of Yahya Shinowar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza, who is believed to have masterminded the October 7 attacks. The war was sparked by an unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israeli soil that resulted in the deaths of more than 1,160 people, the majority of civilians killed in a single day, according to an AFP tally based on official figures by Israelis.

“Get rid of Hamas”

In response, Israel vowed to “exterminate” Hamas and killed 27,365 Palestinians, the majority of whom were women, children and adolescents, according to the latest statement from the movement's health ministry on Sunday. According to Israel, about 250 people were abducted on October 7, and 132 hostages are still being held in Gaza. The army reported that 27 of them were killed.