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TPS-IL on 26 March, 2025
Gaza Protests Against Hamas Gain Momentum, Israel Warns of More Ground Operations
Jerusalem, 26 March, 2025 (TPS-IL) -- Since resuming attacks on Gaza, Israel has struck more than 430 targets in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, the Israel Defense Forces said on Wednesday as the Defense Minister called on Palestinians to take note of continuing protests against Hamas and warned of expanding ground operations.
The number includes 18 sites in Syria such as remaining strategic military capabilities at the Tadmor and T4 airbases.
It also includes 40 Hezbollah targets across Lebanon in response to rocket fire in the Upper Galilee.
Also in the past week, Israeli air defenses intercepted six surface-to-surface missiles fired by Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, three rockets launched from Lebanon, and another five fired from Gaza, the IDF said.
For the second consecutive day, hundreds of Palestinians in northern Gaza demonstrated against Hamas and the war. Protesters chanted “Hamas out” and held signs reading “Stop the war” and “We want to live in peace.”
Meanwhile, Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Gaza residents to prepare to evacuate as the army gears up expand its ground operations.
“Hamas is endangering your lives and will cause you to lose your homes and more and more territory that will be added to the Israeli defense system. Sinwar the First destroyed Gaza and Sinwar the Second is ready to burn half of Gaza with his own hands just to try and preserve the rule of corruption of himself and his fellow Hamas murderers and rapists,” Katz said. He was referring to Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar and his brother, Mohammed. After Yahya Sinwar was killed in October, Mohammed Sinwar became Hamas’ de facto military commander.
“Learn from the residents of Beit Lahiya, as they did, you too will demand the removal of Hamas from Gaza and the immediate release of all Israeli hostages – this is the only way to stop the war,” Katz said.
Surprise Israeli airstrikes on March 18 ended a two-month ceasefire with Hamas after the Iran-backed terror group rejected U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff’s proposal to extend the ceasefire’s first phase in exchange for the release of five hostages.
Although talks over phase two of the agreement, set to begin February 3, never took place, the ceasefire held for weeks as mediators sought new terms.
At least 1,180 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 59 remaining hostages, 36 are believed to be dead.
