One IOF soldier, 13 injured, others captured in deadly Hamas ambush

Israeli media reported on Saturday that at least two soldiers were killed, 13 others were wounded, and four remain missing after Hamas fighters ambushed the occupation army in Gaza.

According to Al-Quds News Network, citing Israeli sources, several “serious security incidents” unfolded within a short span of time. One of the most significant took place in the Al-Zaytoun area, east of Gaza City, and continued until late hours.

The incidents were described as the most alarming since the October 7, 2023 attack. Reports confirmed that Hamas fighters tracked Israeli troop movements using night-vision technology, enabling them to launch ambushes and inflict heavy losses.

Israeli media said that militants from Hamas’s Al-Qassam Brigades mounted a large-scale assault in Al-Zaytoun, deploying a huge number of fighters against fortified army positions.

Read more: Israeli minister warns Hamas to disarm or 'face the gates of hell'

In response, Israeli helicopters fired heavily to cover evacuation efforts, but six aircraft reportedly came under fire during the operation.

Minutes after the initial confrontation, two more incidents occurred, leaving additional soldiers injured. An Israeli rescue unit sent to extract troops from the first engagement was itself ambushed.

As per reports, the Israeli army activated the “Hannibal Directive,” a controversial directive allowing the use of lethal force to prevent soldiers from being captured, even if it risks killing them.