IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari informed this morning (Friday) that the number of confirmed hostages being held by Hamas and other terrorist organizations in Gaza has increased and notices have been given to 229 families.
He added that "in the next few hours we will release evidence of Hamas' use of humanitarian facilities in Gaza. Hamas always prefers to endanger the residents of the Strip in order to protect terrorists."
Hagari stated that "in the last few hours, an aerial threat has been identified in the Red Sea area. Fighter jets have been launched and the matter is under investigation. According to our intelligence, the damage that was done to Egypt originated from this threat."
Addressing the raid in the Gaza Strip, Hagari said: "The raid began yesterday in broad daylight and ended successfully this morning, all the forces left without suffering any casualties. These operations allow us to uncover the enemy, kill terrorists, remove from the area explosive charges and rocket launching positions that are being prepared to fire on the Gaza periphery."
In the meantime, IDF Central Command Commander General Yehuda Fox signed a confiscation and demolition order for the house of senior Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri near Ramallah.