Aerial photograph of the building that was attacked in Shati
Aerial photograph of the building that was attacked in ShatiIDF Spokesperson's Unit

The IDF Spokesperson's Unit on Sunday morning published aerial photographs of the targets attacked by the Israel Air Force on Saturday, including a high-rise building in the Al-Shati refugee camp and a large strike on a Hamas Battalion headquarters in Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza.

Situated adjacent to Nasser Street (the main street in the southern part of the Rimal neighborhood in Gaza City) and near the "Sheikh Zeid" mosque, the large abandoned building that was targeted by the IDF, once served as the "Palestinian National Library". Its five floors were intended to be used by residents of the Gaza Strip for public and government services and housing.

Over the last several years, however, the large building had been used by Hamas as a training facility for urban warfare, techniques to take over buildings and tunnel survival – thanks to an offensive tunnel located under the building. The tunnel itself is part of Hamas' massive underground tunnel network in the Gaza Strip and further exemplifies that Hamas continues to use civilian infrastructure for military purposes, severely endangering the very civilians living under its rule.

"Hamas continues to use civilian infrastructure for military purposes, and thus endangers the civilians under its watch. The Hamas terrorist organization is responsible for everything that takes place in Gaza and is responsible for the situation. The IDF is prepared for a variety of scenarios that will intensify according to the assessment of the situation and the operational need. The IDF is determined to continue protecting Israeli citizens," said the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit.

Building attacked in Beit Lahiya.
Building attacked in Beit Lahiya.Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit