Gaza city: The Palestinian resistance group Hamas stated on Tuesday that its fighters had killed and injured several Israeli soldiers in attacks in the northern Gaza Strip. The group's military wing, the Qassam Brigades, announced in a statement that three soldiers were affected in an ambush in the Shejaiya neighborhood on July 5.
According to Anadolu Agency, Hamas fighters also targeted an Israeli force with anti-personnel shells on July 7, resulting in additional casualties. The Palestinian group reported that an Israeli army command center and a Merkava tank were struck with anti-tank shells in the same area. Details of these attacks were disclosed following the return of Hamas fighters from the battlefield.
There has been no immediate response from the Israeli army regarding Hamas' statement. Despite the prolonged conflict exceeding 21 months, Palestinian resistance factions continue to execute strategic ambushes in the region, causing casualties among Israeli forces and highlighting challenges in achieving Israel's military objectives.
Official army statistics indicate that Israel has suffered 898 military fatalities and 6,190 injuries since the commencement of the Gaza war. Israeli media, under wartime censorship, have criticized the army for allegedly minimizing the extent of its losses to sustain public morale.
Recently, Israel's Security Cabinet endorsed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's phased strategy to occupy Gaza entirely. The initial phase involves relocating approximately 1 million residents from Gaza City to the south, encircling the city, and initiating incursions into residential zones. The subsequent phase entails capturing central refugee camps, which have already been severely impacted by the ongoing conflict.
Israel faces increasing condemnation for its actions in Gaza, with nearly 61,600 fatalities reported since October 2023. Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Additionally, Israel is confronting a genocide case at the International Court of Justice related to its operations in the enclave.