IDF Destroyed Hamas Terror Headquarters in Al-Ouda and Taybeh Schools in Gaza

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) recently carried out a precision operation in Abbasan, east of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, targeting and destroying Hamas terror headquarters embedded within the Al-Ouda School and Taybeh School. This operation is part of the IDF’s ongoing efforts to dismantle Hamas infrastructure used to plan and execute attacks against Israel and its citizens.

According to IDF statements, the Al-Ouda School and Taybeh School were being used by Hamas as command and control centers to orchestrate terrorist activities. The IDF emphasized that these sites were exploited by Hamas to hide among civilian infrastructure, a tactic the group frequently employs to shield its operations. The military’s operation involved airstrikes and ground efforts to neutralize the threat posed by these facilities, ensuring the destruction of weapons stockpiles, communication hubs, and other terror infrastructure embedded within the schools.

The operation in Abbasan aligns with broader IDF activities in Khan Yunis, where troops have been targeting Hamas strongholds. For instance, recent reports indicate that the IDF’s 98th Paratroopers Division, including the 89th “Oz” Brigade, has been active in the region, destroying extensive tunnel networks and eliminating dozens of terrorists. In one such operation, the IDF dismantled a 3.5-kilometer-long tunnel complex in Khan Yunis that contained sleeping quarters, weapons, and explosives, highlighting the scale of Hamas’s underground operations.

The IDF’s actions in Abbasan also come in the context of Operation Gideon’s Chariots, a campaign aimed at crippling Hamas’s remaining capabilities in Gaza. The military has reported destroying over 1,200 terror infrastructures in the Khan Yunis area, including sites in nearby Khuza’a, which served as a central Hamas stronghold during the October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel. These efforts are part of Israel’s broader goal to secure the release of hostages and eliminate Hamas’s military presence in the region.

The IDF has accused Hamas of systematically violating international law by operating from within civilian infrastructure, such as schools and hospitals, using them as human shields. In a similar operation, the IDF struck a Hamas command center embedded in a mosque within the al-Taba’een school complex in Gaza City, where at least 20 terror operatives were reportedly present. The IDF took steps to minimize civilian casualties, using precision munitions and aerial surveillance.

While Hamas claimed significant civilian casualties in some of these strikes, the IDF has disputed these figures, stating they are often exaggerated and do not align with military intelligence or the precision of the strikes. The IDF maintains that its operations are carefully planned to target only combatants and terror infrastructure while reducing harm to civilians.

This operation in Abbasan underscores the challenges of urban warfare in Gaza, where Hamas embeds its military assets within densely populated areas. The destruction of the Al-Ouda and Taybeh school headquarters marks another step in Israel’s efforts to dismantle Hamas’s operational capabilities and ensure the safety of its citizens.