For the first time since the new directives: IDF fired at a Hamas sniper in the northern Gaza Strip

Forces of the 99th Division identified at noon (Tuesday) a Hamas sniper who posed an immediate threat near the 'yellow line' where IDF soldiers operate in the northern Gaza Strip. Immediately after the identification, the forces fired at him with the aim of removing the threat — and a hit was identified.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel opposes the plans of the Peace Council for the Gaza Strip, but in practice, the reality on the ground has already changed — and even in the Council itself, they said that in practice, Israel is indeed cooperating. Following the directive of the political echelon, the IDF has moved from a state of attack to response, and every action reaches the approval of the Chief of Staff, Rav-Aluf Eyal Zamir. Starting from last week, there is immediate authorization only for strikes to remove immediate threats — while targeted killings are carried out only with the approval of the Chief of Staff and the political echelon.

'IDF forces under the Southern Command are deployed in the area in accordance with the agreement and will continue to act to remove any immediate threat,' noted the IDF Spokesperson today in his statement regarding the sniper attack.

This is the first update on an attack under the new directives in the Gaza Strip. Until now, the forces had not fired beyond the 'yellow line', and now they attacked the sniper who was near the line and endangered them.