Hamas’s military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, launched attacks on Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip for three straight days. These rocket attacks have killed at least 15 Israeli soldiers. This recent wave of violence is one of the deadliest for Israel’s military since March.
Last Friday, Hamas fired an explosive rocket at an Israeli armored vehicle in the northern Gaza area of Tuffah. Inside the vehicle, 17 soldiers were present. Seven of them died, and ten others were injured. The state-run Turkish news agency Anadolu reported that another Israeli soldier was killed Thursday in Gaza City by Al-Qassam Brigades fire.
During these attacks, Hamas fighters destroyed two Israeli Merkava tanks, an armored vehicle, and a bulldozer. One day earlier, in Khan Yunis in southern Gaza, another attack killed seven Israeli soldiers. Among those killed was an officer with the rank of lieutenant.
The Al-Qassam Brigades fighters used surprise attacks and camouflage to target their enemies. Reuters news agency called the deaths over three days one of the largest Israeli military losses in recent months.
Since the ceasefire in March, this is the highest number of Israeli soldier casualties in a single incident. Experts say these losses are a serious psychological and tactical setback for Israel’s military.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas fighters launched a surprise attack on southern Israel. They killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages to Gaza. In response, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) started a massive military operation in Gaza that is still ongoing.