TEL AVIV, November 1. /TASS/. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) keeps expanding considerably the ground operations in the Gaza Strip, IDF Spokesman Daniel Hagari said.

"IDF forces continue to significantly expand ground operations in the Gaza Strip. In northern Gaza, during the night, significant battles took place," he said.

According to Hagari, one of the battles "was conducted surrounding a multi-story building in the area of Jabaliya from which terrorists shot at our forces."

"This building, like many locations that Hamas terrorists use as shelter, is a civilian structure, located in close proximity to a school, medical center and government offices. IDF soldiers directed aircraft to strike the threat, eliminating the terrorists," he added.

Hagari confirmed that the commander of the Jabaliya Battalion, Ibrahim Biari, was killed on October 31. In Hagari’s words, Biari was one of the commanders responsible for the militants’ attack on the Israeli areas bordering Gaza on October 7, as well as "the dominant leader of <…> military activity during this war in northern Gaza."

"He was killed while situating himself inside the Jabaliya Camp - with dozens of additional terrorists around him in the same area - which contains a headquarters and other operational facilities located in buildings within the civilian camp," Hagari said.

"The strike caused the collapse of the buildings compound within the civilian camp. The strike on the compound additionally caused the collapse of the underground military infrastructure, including terror tunnels under the camp, which further caused the collapse of additional structures," he continued.

Hagari pointed out that this incident again shows how "terrorists use civilians as a ‘human shield’," and again called upon the Gazans "to evacuate for their own safety."

"This is a cynical tactic that they [terrorists] have, and will continue, to employ," he added noting that "they failed to hide their true faces, they themselves are bringing disaster to Gaza.".