IDF carries out major drone strike in Gaza, killing 20 Hamas terrorists

IDF drone strike:   The Israeli military claims to have killed 20 Hamas militants. According to the Israeli military, approximately 20 armed Hamas militants attempted to carry out a raid against other Gaza residents in the Israeli-designated humanitarian zone. The Israeli military used drone strikes to thwart the attack, killing all 20 militants.

The army has also released video footage of the operation, clearly showing the drone strikes. The Israeli military stated that the operation took place in the Khan Younis area, which Israel has designated as a safe humanitarian zone for Gaza civilians. Hamas's attack aimed to destabilize the region and target civilians.

תיעוד: כוחות צה”ל חיסלו חוליית מחבלים מארגון הטרור חמאס שתכננה לבצע פשיטה למרחב הומניטרי בחאן יונס בו שוהים תושבים עזתים

היום, כלי טיס של חיל האוויר, בהכוונת אוגדת עזה (143), אמ״ן ושב”כ, חיסל חוליה חמושה של כ-20 מחבלים מארגון הטרור חמאס שניסתה לבצע פשיטה נגד תושבים עזתים ששהו… pic.twitter.com/nUjvIHsQ4A

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) October 3, 2025

IDF Foils Hamas Family Attack

Hossam al-Astal, who leads an armed group in the area, told The Times of Israel that his forces, with air support from the IDF, thwarted a Hamas attack on a family this morning, with which the militant group has a dispute. The Israeli military did not mention the armed group in its statement, but confirmed that it had thwarted an attack on "Gaza residents" in the area.

תיעוד: כוחות צה”ל חיסלו חוליית מחבלים מארגון הטרור חמאס שתכננה לבצע פשיטה למרחב הומניטרי בחאן יונס בו שוהים תושבים עזתים

היום, כלי טיס של חיל האוויר, בהכוונת אוגדת עזה (143), אמ״ן ושב”כ, חיסל חוליה חמושה של כ-20 מחבלים מארגון הטרור חמאס שניסתה לבצע פשיטה נגד תושבים עזתים ששהו… pic.twitter.com/nUjvIHsQ4A

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) October 3, 2025

Terrorists killed in drone strikes

The IDF says that after the drone strikes, several Hamas activists were seen trying to use Palestinian children as human shields. The army says the gunmen were killed in separate attacks minutes later, but no civilians were harmed. The army says Hamas has repeatedly attempted to prevent Palestinian civilians from entering the humanitarian zone in southern Gaza in recent weeks.

Mass Exodus From Gaza City

According to the latest IDF estimates, more than 870,000 Palestinians have evacuated Gaza City, located in the south of the Strip, while about one million people lived there before the army's latest offensive against Hamas. "Our forces are committed to protecting civilians in Gaza. Hamas terrorists are constantly trying to disrupt peace in the region, but our vigilance and swift action thwarted their plans," an Israeli army spokesman said.