More than 250 terror targets struck over past 24 hours, hostages held by Hamas now at 224: IDF

An Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)reconnaissance aircraft flies over the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip on Oct. 26, 2023, amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. (JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Fighter jets hit more than 250 Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, according to Israel Defense Forces Thursday morning.

The IDF said it struck Hamas infrastructure, operational command centers, tunnel shafts and rocket launchers "placed in the heart of civilian areas" that have fired toward Israeli territory since the terrorist group launched its attack on Oct. 7.

In addition to the airstrikes, the Israeli navy also took down a Hamas surface-to-air missile launch post in the Khan Yunis area.

"The post is located adjacent to a mosque and kindergarten, which is further proof that Hamas deliberately uses civilian sites for terror purposes," the IDF said.

IDF spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari also revealed there are 224 hostages in Hamas' custody as of Thursday morning, and all families have been notified.

"The effort to release the hostages is still a high priority in any possible way," Hagari said.