IDF returned fire and eliminated 10 Hamas operatives; 3 Israeli soldiers were injured
Hamas terrorists on Wednesday morning stormed an Israeli military base in a coordinated raid to kidnap Israeli soldiers, according to the Israel Defense Forces and media reports.
At least 18 terrorists emerged from a tunnel at around 9 a.m. local time and opened fire as they approached the Israeli base in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis, the Times of Israel reported. The IDF returned fire, eliminating at least 10 of the operatives from the air and in close combat. An aerial hunt is underway for the terrorists who managed to escape back to the tunnel, according to the Jerusalem Post.
The IDF assessed that the Hamas terrorists aimed to abduct troops from the base. Three Israeli soldiers were injured in the ambush, one seriously, according to the Times.
Hamas’s military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying that its operatives “stormed” the Israeli base and used sniper fire to “fatally wound” a tank commander. “One of the martyrs detonated himself among the soldiers, leaving them dead and wounded,” the Al-Qassam Brigades claimed.
The IDF has not reported that any of its soldiers were killed.
The surprise raid comes as the Israeli military prepares to take over Gaza City and eliminate Hamas terrorists. The plan has prompted Egyptian and Qatari mediators to ramp up ceasefire talks, with a Hamas official claiming on Monday that the group has agreed to the latest ceasefire proposal, according to Reuters. The news agency noted, however, that a Hamas official said the group “rejected Israeli demands to disarm or expel its leaders from Gaza,” which Israel says are necessary for peace.
President Donald Trump on Monday appeared to back Israel’s plans to take control of Gaza City, saying the terror group will not release hostages until it is “confronted and destroyed.” Israeli intelligence estimates that around 20 hostages are still alive in Gaza, alongside the bodies of up to 50 others killed in captivity.
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