15 Israeli Forces Killed, Injured in Northern Gaza as Qassam Fighters Target Hideout

The Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, reported on Friday that 15 Israeli troops were killed or injured during an operation in northern Gaza.

Iranian media reported citing an official Hamas statement that the fighters used an al-Yassin 105 shell to strike an Israeli personnel carrier and attacked a building where 12 soldiers had taken shelter with a thermobaric grenade shell, resulting in fatalities and injuries.

The operation reportedly continued as three Israeli soldiers attempted to escape toward a Merkava tank in the Jabalia area, where they were targeted with a highly explosive device. This comes amid ongoing Israeli military actions in northern Gaza, which have intensified in recent weeks, leading to significant casualties among Palestinian civilians.

The escalation follows reports that Israel has lost 62 troops in clashes with resistance groups in Gaza and Lebanon over the past month. Additionally, the Tulkarem Brigade, another armed faction affiliated with Hamas, released video evidence of an explosive device targeting an Israeli bulldozer during a raid in the al-Balawneh neighborhood of the West Bank city of Tulkarem.

Recently, Hamas confirmed its willingness to engage with mediators regarding new proposals for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri stated that the movement has participated in several discussions and plans to hold additional meetings.

In a press conference earlier this week, Abu Zuhri expressed Hamas’ openness to any agreements that could alleviate the hardships faced by the Palestinian people in Gaza. He outlined key objectives, including the establishment of a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of occupation forces from the Strip, the lifting of the blockade, humanitarian relief efforts, support for reconstruction, and negotiating a significant prisoner exchange.