Gaza's deadly challenge: IDF faces renewed attacks as Hamas, allies regroup
Two concerning incidents this week illustrate that terrorists in Gaza are still able to carry out offensive attacks. The attacks – in Beit Hanun, northern Gaza; and Khan Yunis, southern Gaza – are likely linked to Hamas. It's also possible they are linked to other terrorist groups that operate alongside Hamas.
The overall context is that Hamas and its terrorist allies are capable of ambushes and complex attacks.
The two attacks are also concerning because Israel has cleared both Beit Hanun and Khan Yunis in the past. Since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas War, the IDF has generally refrained from entering key areas of Gaza. These include the central camps and parts of Gaza City.
This means that Hamas and other terrorist groups are able to remain in these areas, which are about 35% of Gaza. The terrorist groups can then plan attacks from these areas and re-infiltrate the other 65% of Gaza where the IDF operates.
Much of that 65% is now ruins and demolished buildings. The terrorists are able to operate in the rubble, however, and they also still have tunnels.
After the Beit Hanun attack in which five soldiers were killed, IDF Spokesperson Brig.-Gen Effie Defrin said: 'IDF troops are currently encircling the Beit Hanun area from all directions – both above and below ground. Beit Hanun is a fortified target that currently contains dozens more terrorists and numerous underground tunnels that must be dismantled.'
Beit Hanun is near Sderot, less than two kilometers from the border. It can be seen easily from roads in the Gaza periphery and from built-up areas of Sderot.
Over the years, Beit Hanun was a launchpad for terrorists. After 642 days of war, it is still full of terrorists. This is concerning.
The IDF is attempting to re-clear Beit Hanun, which was cleared in September and December in 2024. This time, the Kfir Brigade's 97th Battalion and elements of the Northern Gaza Brigade have been involved, under the command of the 99th Division.
After five soldiers were killed and 14 wounded in an ambush on June 7, the IDF reinforced its forces, sending the Givati Brigade's combat team, under the 162nd Division, to help. The IDF softened up Beit Hanun using the IAF.
This plodding maneuver may have let the terrorists know that the IDF was coming. The tactic of softening up the enemy dates from World War I. It's not clear why the IDF, which is supposed to be a very hi-tech military capable of rapid maneuver, still uses such an old tactic.
Explaining how the terrorist ambush happened, Defrin said: 'During the nighttime operation, the troops advanced on foot alongside tanks and additional vehicles, securing the vehicles against various threats in the area. According to the initial inquiry, the troops were hit by three explosive devices that were detonated within minutes of each other.
'After the first device exploded and the initial report was made, a rescue squad was dispatched. During the evacuation, the troops encountered gunfire directed at them, wounding several soldiers. The troops continued the evacuation while engaged in combat under fire.'
This appears to indicate that the terrorists planned this attack. They also did it in the rubble that is normal in Beit Hanun. They did it after 642 days of war, when they were supposed to be largely beaten.
While in Washington this week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas would be defeated, and there won't be Hamas in Gaza when the war is over. Hamas appears to be trying to challenge this assertion, however, even as its leaders in Doha discuss a ceasefire.
Beit Hanun is now encircled. The battle not far from the border is still being fought against dozens of terrorists who are believed to be hiding in the ruins of this northern Gaza town.
There is no doubt the IDF can defeat Hamas. The question is whether the terrorists will continue to melt into the rubble and wait for targets of opportunity to continue its insurgency. This is the main challenge.
Meanwhile, in Khan Yunis, another incident took place on June 9 that was concerning. Khan Yunis was cleared by the 98th Division between December and April 2024. Nevertheless, it seems the terrorists are back.
In March and April 2024, the IDF estimated that Hamas was largely defeated in Gaza, and that 20 of its 24 battalions were dismantled. It's not clear if this assessment was correct, however, and Hamas has recruited more terrorists over the past year.
'An initial inquiry suggests that during IDF operational activity in Khan Yunis, terrorists came out of an underground tunnel and attacked IDF troops,' the IDF said. 'During the attack, the terrorists attempted to abduct a soldier who served as an engineering vehicle operator. The soldier fought the terrorists, and they shot and killed him. Security forces operating in the area opened fire toward the terrorists, hitting several of them and thwarting the abduction. The incident is under review.'
This is as concerning as the Beit Hanun ambush. It shows that the enemy is trying to carry out more complex ambushes.
Soldiers from the Golani Brigade, part of the 36th Division, are fighting in Khan Yunis. Golani and the 36th played a key role in taking the Morag Corridor in southern Gaza this past March and April.
The IDF has been engaged in operations as part of Gideon's Chariots since mid-May. In June, 20 soldiers were killed. This shows that Gaza is still a deadly challenge. In Khan Yunis, the IDF found a tunnel 500 meters long and 13 meters deep.
'Over the past week, the troops eliminated dozens of terrorists and dismantled more than 130 terrorist infrastructure sites both above and below ground, including weapon stockpiles, booby-trapped buildings, observation posts, and launch positions directed at IDF troops,' the IDF said.
Hamas and other terrorist groups, including Palestinian Islamic Jihad, may be trying to go on the offensive in Gaza. They may be trying to take advantage of hopes for a ceasefire to claw back areas they lost. They may also want to show they can continue to 'resist' the IDF.
This comes as Hezbollah is still active in Lebanon, and the Houthis have increased attacks on ships. The IDF has beaten many enemies, but the enemies still continue to threaten Israel.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
42 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Israel Conducts Deadly Strike Against 'Fake' Aid Workers in Gaza
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) recently conducted a deadly strike targeting what it claimed were armed individuals posing as staff for an international organization dedicated to providing food relief, according to an Israeli military official. The news came as the IDF has sought to push back against a global outcry over the killing of civilian workers in the Gaza Strip, alleging some of them were affiliated with Hamas and other armed factions. Israel has been condemned for its recent killing of an Al Jazeera journalist and his crew, whom the IDF claims were members of Hamas. The Israeli military official told reporters Tuesday that the incident occurred over the weekend after IDF troops identified a gathering of "a few dozen" armed individuals traveling near an IDF post in Gaza. The Israeli forces then observed a parked vehicle bearing the insignia World Central Kitchen (WCK), prompting Israeli personnel to contact the Washington, D.C.-based food security organization to verify that the individuals were not affiliated with the group. The Israeli military official described the situation as one of "armed men in southern Gaza, near an IDF post, posing as humanitarian workers, knowing that the IDF will be much more careful when we see them." "We were able to verify in real time with the WCK that this, in fact, is not related to their organization, and is, in fact, a fake vehicle," the Israeli military official said. "And still, we waited for the people to leave the vehicle." "We were waiting for another identification in real time of the same people to see again that they are still the same people, still armed people," the Israeli military official added. "We waited for them to get out of the car, and then we went forward and eliminated those armed men who were near our troops." A screengrab from an undated video shared by the Israel Defense Forces purports to show armed men posing as World Central Kitchen aid workers in Gaza. A screengrab from an undated video shared by the Israel Defense Forces purports to show armed men posing as World Central Kitchen aid workers in Gaza. Israel Defense Forces What We Know The Israeli military official told Newsweek that the IDF was not yet able to determine whether the armed individuals were members of Hamas or any other militant group operating in Gaza. "I'm unable to say they are directly connected to Hamas," the Israeli official said. "We're very careful when we say [there is a] connection, to which organization. We want to be able to verify and have concrete connection when we speak, and be very responsible with the information we put out." The IDF later issued a statement announcing the strike. "In a targeted airstrike last week, five armed terrorists were eliminated while near a vehicle marked with the emblem of the international humanitarian aid organization 'World Central Kitchen' (WCK), despite having no affiliation with the organization, and while posing a threat to our troops," the IDF said. "The terrorists deliberately affixed the emblem and wore yellow vests in an attempt to conceal their activity and avoid being targeted, cynically exploiting the status and trust afforded to aid organizations," the IDF added. What Is World Central Kitchen? World Central Kitchen, founded in 2010 by Spanish American chef and restauranteur José Andrés, operates to provide food relief in areas of crisis around the world, including conflict zones such as Ukraine and Gaza. Late last month, The New York Times published an op-ed by Andrés titled "The World Cannot Stand By With Gaza on the Brink of Famine." In it, he disputed Israel's claims of Hamas looting humanitarian aid convoys and criticized what he called a "blockade" imposed by Israel against food entering Gaza. Days later, World Central Kitchen published an article confirming that it was once again "getting some ingredients and supplies into Gaza we are using to cook for vulnerable families and medical facilities in the community of Deir Al-Balah," near where the deadly incident involving Israeli forces and armed fighters was said to have occurred. World Central Kitchen has yet to issue a statement acknowledging the incident. Newsweek has reached out to World Central Kitchen and the José Andrés Group for comment. Caught in Crossfire News of the incident comes just two days after the IDF announced the killing of a prominent Al Jazeera journalist, Anas Al-Sharif, in strikes targeting Gaza City on Sunday. The IDF claimed that Sharif had covertly operated as part of the "Hamas East Jabaliya Battalion" that was responsible for rocket attacks. Al Jazeera has rejected this claim and a number of international organizations, including the United Nations and the Committee to Protect Journalists have condemned the strike. Israel has previously acknowledged fault in targeting World Central Kitchen staff in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the killing of seven aid workers by Israeli drone fire in April 2024 a "a tragic event in which our forces unintentionally harmed non-combatants in the Gaza Strip." "This happens in war," Netanyahu said at the time. "We are conducting a thorough inquiry and are in contact with the governments. We will do everything to prevent a recurrence." When another Israeli strike killed at least three World Central Kitchen workers in November, the IDF asserted that the target of the operation was a member of Hamas and called on the organization to investigate its employees.
USA Today
42 minutes ago
- USA Today
Israel ambassador Mike Huckabee says Hamas 'could use some Ozempic'
"Instead of food, they could use some Ozempic," the U.S. ambassador to Israel said of Hamas during an interview with Piers Morgan. Amid mass starvation in Gaza, the U.S. ambassador to Israel said the leaders of Hamas aren't experiencing anything close to the famine-like conditions civilians are enduring. "They don't care about people getting to eat," Ambassador Mike Huckabee told TV host Piers Morgan. "And if you look at the people from Hamas when they get photographed, they're well-fed. None of them are hungry. I guarantee you – look at their faces; look at their bodes. And instead of food, they could use some Ozempic." The comments came as international outrage over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached a fever pitch in recent weeks. The United Nations' World Food Programme has warned that a third of Gaza's population isn't eating for days at a time. (Starvation of a civilian population as a method of war is a crime under international laws.) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to deny that civilians are starving, saying as he announced a new offensive into the Gaza Strip that assessments of the situation have been exaggerated. Read more: One meal a day. $20 for an egg. Choosing which kid gets fed. Starvation stalks Gaza In the interview on Aug. 11, Huckabee defended the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an aid distribution system supported by the U.S. and Israel that has been criticized by other foreign leaders and international organizations for generating violence near distribution sites. Huckabee said Hamas, the Palestinian militant group designated by the U.S. government as a terrorist organization, "hates" the GHF because its aid distribution methods have hurt Hamas' capacity to "control the food market." "Yeah, there's some real deprivation in that country," he said. "But it's not because GHF is killing people."
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
'It is his right, duty to express his opinion': Katz defends Zamir in response to PM's son
'As the defense minister appointed by the government to oversee the IDF, it is my responsibility to ensure things are carried out - and so they will be.' Defense Minister Israel Katz responded on Wednesday morning to the prime minister's son, Yair Netanyahu, who accused Katz of insisting on the appointment of the current IDF Chief of Staff, Eyal Zamir, in a Tuesday tweet. Katz clarified his position, aligned himself with the IDF, and expressed support for the chief of staff's professional conduct in confronting the political echelon over the occupation of the Gaza Strip. He emphasized: 'It is the chief of staff's right and duty to express his position in the appropriate forums, and after the political leadership makes decisions, the IDF will implement them resolutely and professionally - as it has done until now in all arenas - until the war's objectives are achieved.' Yair Netanyahu had responded to a tweet by Yedioth Ahronoth military correspondent Yossi Yehoshua, who called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to explain to the Israeli public the potential costs of such a move, especially in light of the reported opposition within the IDF. 'If the person who dictated your tweet is who we all think it is, this is a rebellion and an attempted military coup, something fitting of a banana republic in Central America in the 1970s. And it is completely criminal,' alluding to Zamir. Later in the exchange, when another user noted that Zamir was appointed by his father, he shifted the blame to Katz. According to him, Katz was the one who pushed for Zamir's appointment as chief of staff, insisted on it, and was also responsible for formulating the list of candidates. Katz said that, "as reported, I recommended Eyal Zamir for the position of IDF chief of staff, and the prime minister and the government approved my recommendation,' Katz said. 'I believed that at the crossroads the IDF was facing, he was the most suitable candidate to build and operate the force against the many security challenges before us, due to his strategic worldview, capabilities, and extensive experience.' IDF successes under Zamir's leadership 'Under his leadership, together with the IDF's brave commanders and soldiers, and under the guidance of the political echelon, the IDF is operating offensively and forcefully in Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, Gaza, and other arenas—and led an unprecedented, stunning, and victorious strike against Iran. "Operation Gideon's Chariots achieved significant gains against Hamas in Gaza. Entire areas were captured and cleared of terrorists and terror infrastructure, both above and below ground, which for the first time were completely destroyed.' Katz said that Hamas's refusal to release the hostages necessitates new decisions on how to advance the war's objectives: 'The elimination of Hamas while creating the conditions for the release of the hostages and ensuring the safety of Israeli communities, now and forever.' 'As the defense minister appointed by the government to oversee the IDF, it is my responsibility to ensure things are carried out - and so they will be,' Katz concluded. Solve the daily Crossword
