Hamas Claims Five Israeli Soldiers Killed in Radical Attack in Gaza

The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades (the militant wing of the Palestinian Hamas movement) claim that five Israeli soldiers have been killed in an attack by radicals near the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. The announcement from the militants was posted on the group's Telegram channel.

It asserts that a unit of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades "blew up a group of Israeli soldiers using anti-tank mines." According to the statement, "the death of five soldiers has been confirmed, and several other soldiers have been wounded." It was noted that supporters of Hamas carried out this action in the vicinity of the Al-Tabi'in mosque in the eastern outskirts of Rafah.

Some time ago, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades announced that 15 Israeli soldiers were killed as a result of their supporters' attack near the city of Rafah. The group's report stated that Palestinian radicals had "blown up a house where many Israeli soldiers were holed up" near the Tanur area close to Rafah, and then engaged in close combat with enemy soldiers.

No official comments have been made by the Israeli army regarding these incidents.

The situation in the Middle East sharply deteriorated following the infiltration of Hamas militants from Gaza into Israeli territory on October 7, 2023, which was accompanied by the killing of residents in border communities and the taking of more than 240 hostages.

In response, Israel launched a military operation in Gaza aimed at destroying Hamas's military-political infrastructure and freeing all captives. By the end of November 2023, a temporary humanitarian ceasefire was established with the mediation of Egypt and Qatar, lasting one week, during which, according to Israel, 110 hostages were released. The ceasefire was breached on December 1, military actions resumed, and continue to this day.