Israeli Army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi said Friday that Israel’s core objective in the Gaza Strip remains the “complete disarmament” of the territory and the “dismantling of Hamas,” Al‑Jazeera stated.
Al-Jazeera added that Halevi’s remarks came during a field tour in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, where senior commanders accompanied him.
Halevi said the army is prepared to shift “from defense to offense” and will act to prevent Palestinian resistance groups from restoring their capabilities.
He added that Israeli forces are “expanding operations against underground infrastructure” and claimed that “Hamas’ frontline battalions have been dismantled.”
According to Al‑Jazeera, Halevi said Israeli forces are deployed along the “yellow line,” controlling Gaza’s main access points while continuing what he described as the systematic removal of Hamas infrastructure.
Nine hours to stop a fire in a residential building in Gaza because the Civil Defence doesn’t have any reliable equipment after Israeli occupation had destroyed everything and is still banning entry of any new equipment.. pic.twitter.com/Q4QXpCI7zj
— Motasem A Dalloul (@AbujomaaGaza) February 13, 2026
Halevi’s comments about moving “from defense to offense” come against the backdrop of two years of near‑continuous bombardment that has left much of Gaza in ruins.
Fire in Gaza City Leaves Heavy Damage Amid Limited Emergency Capacity
A large fire swept through her home in a building that also contains warehouses belonging to the Qatari Committee in Gaza City.
Civil Defense teams, assisted by police units and local residents, worked for more than three hours to contain the blaze on Al‑Thawra Street in the Al‑Rimal neighborhood.
The response was hampered by the severe shortage of equipment and resources, forcing firefighters to focus on preventing the flames from spreading to adjacent structures.
🚨A woman breaks down in tears after a massive fire engulfed her home inside the same building that houses warehouses belonging to the Qatari Committee in Gaza City. Civil Defense crews, supported by police forces and members of the local community, battled the blaze for more… pic.twitter.com/p1LR1W2JpA
— Translating Falasteen (Palestine) (@translatingpal) February 13, 2026
Several residents suffering from smoke inhalation were transported for treatment, while others were evacuated from inside the building. The fire caused extensive material damage, and authorities have opened an investigation to determine its cause.
Palestinian officials and humanitarian agencies say the scale of destruction, along with the tens of thousands of casualties caused by airstrikes, artillery fire, and widespread attacks on residential areas, reflects a military campaign that has already inflicted massive, indiscriminate damage across the Strip.
‼️The blaze spread rapidly inside the lower floors, filling the building with thick smoke and forcing prolonged operations that have now exceeded eight continuous hours. Palestinian Civil Defense crews in Gaza Governorate continue to battle an overwhelming and massive fire that… pic.twitter.com/z14JSQV9T7
— Translating Falasteen (Palestine) (@translatingpal) February 13, 2026
With entire neighborhoods flattened and emergency crews unable to reach many victims, the stated transition to offensive operations stands in stark contrast to the devastation already on the ground.
At the end of January, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “reconstruction in Gaza would not begin until the Strip is fully disarmed and cleared of weapons and tunnels.”
The second phase of the ceasefire agreement includes disarming Palestinian factions, further Israeli withdrawals, and the start of reconstruction, estimated by the United Nations at $70 billion.
Ceasefire Violations Escalate
Al‑Jazeera’s correspondent reported that Israeli forces carried out airstrikes, artillery fire, and drone attacks in several areas of the Gaza Strip on Friday, in what Palestinian officials say is part of a pattern of ongoing violations of the October 10, 2025, ceasefire agreement.
Strong winds and a dust storm batter the tents of displaced Palestinian families in the Gaza Strip, worsening already dire conditions in the tents. pic.twitter.com/u5CYH8CCwD
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) February 13, 2026
Israeli aircraft and artillery struck targets inside the army’s deployment zones east of Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, while troops demolished residential buildings in the same area.
In Gaza City, witnesses said Israeli drones dropped explosive munitions on rooftops near the Zeitoun Club in the eastern Zeitoun neighborhood, where the soldiers also fired many live rounds, targeting an area located outside the army’s designated deployment zone under the ceasefire terms.
To terrorize Palestinians in northern Gaza and force them southward during the genocide, Israeli terrorists systematically used drones to drop hand grenades on anything that might help them stay resilient.
Solar panels were their favorite targets. pic.twitter.com/5BC9AYMaao
— Israel Genocide Tracker (@trackingisrael) February 13, 2026
Meanwhile, Israeli naval forces opened fire off the coast of Gaza City, though no injuries were reported.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health said Israel has committed hundreds of ceasefire violations since the agreement took effect, resulting in 591 Palestinians killed and 1,578 injured as of Thursday.
Movement Through Rafah Remains Severely Restricted
The Gaza Government Media Office reported Wednesday that only 488 travelers were able to cross the Rafah Crossing in both directions between its reopening and Tuesday, far below the 1,800 expected during that period. The office said this reflects an Israeli compliance rate of approximately 27 percent.
Of those who crossed, 275 Palestinians were permitted to leave Gaza, while 213 entered. Israeli authorities, however, barred 26 individuals from traveling to Egypt. The office did not clarify the basis for determining the total number of travelers who were supposed to cross under the current arrangement.
On walls that no longer stand, the children of Gaza painted their crescents and lanterns, declaring to the world that ‘Ramadan in Gaza’ is a struggle for survival through beauty. Having no homes left to decorate, they transformed the rubble into canvases pulsing with life. pic.twitter.com/kuD8pWb2dr
— Eye on Palestine (@EyeonPalestine) February 13, 2026
The mechanism in place was expected to allow 50 Palestinians to enter Gaza each day and 50 to depart, primarily patients and their companions. That schedule has not been met since the crossing reopened.
Local assessments in Gaza indicate that around 22,000 wounded and chronically ill Palestinians urgently require evacuation for medical treatment due to the collapse of the health system under Israel’s ongoing assault.
At the same time, nearly 80,000 Palestinians have registered to return to Gaza, reflecting a broad refusal of displacement and a determination to come home despite the extensive destruction.
Before October 7, 2023, hundreds of Palestinians crossed Rafah daily in both directions under a routine system coordinated between Gaza’s Interior Ministry and Egyptian authorities, without Israeli involvement.
Mass burial for dozens of Palestinians who couldn’t be identified
https://t.co/NMnJK6v7DF— Joe Catron (@jncatron) February 13, 2026
Humanitarian Toll Remains Catastrophic
The Ministry of Health said the death toll in Gaza since October 7, 2023, has climbed to 72,049, with 171,691 wounded, while thousands more remain unaccounted for, including victims still buried under destroyed buildings.
Officials say many victims remain under the rubble or in areas rescue teams cannot reach due to the destruction of 90% of Gaza’s infrastructure, leaving emergency crews unable to access large parts of the Strip.
