Hamas Kills Several “Israeli” Forces in Fierce Fighting South Gaza

By Staff, Agencies

The Palestinian Hamas resistance movement announced that its fighters have killed a large number of "Israeli" forces in "fierce fighting" with the occupation forces in the south of the Gaza Strip near Rafah.

In a statement released on Thursday, Hamas said resistance fighters ambushed an "Israeli" 12-man force inside a house in the Tanur neighborhood in the eastern Rafah area with two anti-personnel and anti-armor rockets, killing and wounding several soldiers.

Separately, Hamas’s armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, said it was engaging in “fierce point-blank clashes and confrontations with "Israeli" occupation forces operating in the El Geneina neighborhood east of Rafah city.”

“As part of the ‘Gates of Hell’ operations, we detonated a powerful explosive device targeting a patrol of 7 forces near the Omar Ibn Al-Khattab Mosque in Al-Tannour neighborhood, east of Rafah. We observed the dismembered bodies of several "Israeli" forces at the scene,” the Qassam Brigades said.

Witnesses and residents in Rafah talked about a large explosion, and "Israeli" helicopters trying to evacuate the wounded. There has been heavy fighting in the area, they said.

"Israeli" media reports said an explosion in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip has killed and injured "Israeli" troops from the Golani Brigade, who were detonating a building.

There are more reports that many "Israeli" forces are trapped under the rubble of a building that had been previously rigged with explosives by Hamas resistance fighters in Rafah city.

"Israeli" forces were said to be facing difficulties in evacuating the dead and injured from the site due to the intensity of the fighting. Footage broadcast by "Israeli" sources showed some helicopters ferrying injuries to hospitals.

There is currently an "Israeli" media blackout on the incident on Thursday and there has been no official comment from the entity there yet.

The incident shows the resistance group remains strong and steadfast, more than 19 months after the start of "Israel's" air and ground campaign in Gaza.