Hamas has publicized a video allegedly depicting its militants engaging with Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip. In the video, Palestinian militants are seen emerging from an underground tunnel and firing weapons on Israeli tanks and vehicles.
The release of this video coincides with escalating tensions, as a senior Hamas official openly calls for Israel’s “annihilation.” Concurrently, the Israeli military states that their forces are nearing Gaza City.
In parts of the footage, a Hamas combatant is shown firing what looks like a rocket-propelled grenade in a forested area.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has reported the death of 16 of its soldiers in the ongoing ground operations in Gaza over the past couple of days.
IDF’s Brigadier General Itzik Cohen indicated that they’ve made significant progress in Gaza, claiming they’ve substantially degraded Hamas’s operational capabilities, including its tunnel networks. Yet, he emphasized that the mission is far from over.
Hamas official Ghazi Hamad reiterated their resolve, stating that they would continue launching attacks like the one on 7 October, which resulted in the death of over 1,400 Israelis. This attack, named the “Al Aqsa Flood” by Hamas, also led to the capture of over 200 hostages.
The health ministry under Hamas’s control in Gaza has reported a death toll of 8,796 Palestinians, including 3,648 children, due to Israeli strikes post the 7 October attack. Additionally, Israeli airstrikes targeted residential areas in the Jabalia refugee camp near Gaza City for two consecutive days, resulting in several casualties. An earlier strike in the same area was reported to have killed 50 people and injured 150 more.
