TEL AVIV, February 29. /TASS/. The Israeli military has destroyed more than 13,000 armed Palestinian radicals since the beginning of the operation in the Gaza Strip, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Spokesman Daniel Hagari said during a briefing.

"In the Gaza Strip, the IDF forces are operating and attacking in all parts of the enclave. Over the past ten days, we have eliminated over 450 terrorists in Gaza. In total, since the beginning of the hostilities, we have eliminated more than 13,000 terrorists," he said.

Tensions flared up in the Middle East after Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip attacked Israeli territory on October 7, when many Israelis living in the settlements near the border were killed and about 240 people, including children, women and the elderly, were taken hostage. Hamas views its attack as a response to Israeli authorities’ steps against the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Israel declared a total blockade of the Gaza Strip and launched bombardments of the enclave and some areas in Lebanon and Syria, and then proceeded to carry out a ground operation in the enclave. Clashes are also reported in the West Bank.