WATCH: Instant karma: Israel kills Gaza terrorist within half hour of launching rocket

The majority of fighting in recent days has been in the South, in particular the area around Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis.

IDF attack targets in Gaza after a rocket was launched at Ashkelon from the Gaza Strip, February 17, 2024. (CREDIT: IDF spokesperson)

Israel eliminated a terrorist in Gaza within 30 minutes of the individual launching a rocket attack on Ashkelon on Saturday afternoon, the IDF stated.

Following a series of rocket launches from the Gaza Strip toward Ashkelon, the military identified the launch site and called in an airstrike.

The terrorist was eliminated, and the launch site was destroyed.

Identified with the help of the Nahal Brigade, the site was found in the al-Furqan area in the north of the Gaza Strip.

Northern Gaza had reportedly been mostly cleared of Hamas fighters, but recent reports claim that there was a resurgence of Hamas after the IDF evacuated the area.

 IDF soldier talks with doctor at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, Gaza, February 16, 2024. (credit: IDF SPOKESMAN’S UNIT)
IDF soldier talks with doctor at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, Gaza, February 16, 2024. (credit: IDF SPOKESMAN’S UNIT)

The majority of fighting in recent days has been in the South, particularly in the area around Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis.

Hamas in Rafah

There has also been an increase in attacks in Rafah in the far south of the Gaza Strip as the IDF has been hunting for Yahya Sinwar.

Most Hamas brigades outside of Rafah were meant to have been degraded in combat ability.

Talks are still ongoing between Israel and Hamas with regard to releasing the hostages held by the terrorist group responsible for the October 7 massacre. 

However, in recent days, they have stalled as negotiators failed to find common ground.

Hamas's political chief Ismail Haniyeh blamed Israel for the lack of progress in achieving a ceasefire deal in Gaza. 

Israel has called Hamas's demands delusional, saying in a statement on Wednesday, "Israel will not give in to Hamas’s delusional demands. Israel did not receive in Cairo any new proposal from Hamas on the release of our hostages."