Brigades spokesman Abu Obeida said the operation, carried out against a unit of the Netzah Yehuda Battalion, part of the Kfir Brigade, was part of the resistance's battle of attrition across the Gaza Strip, stressing that "the enemy is suffering increasing daily losses."
He added, "The Israeli army's recent success in rescuing its soldiers from the battlefield does not guarantee that this will happen again in the future, and some of them may fall into the hands of the resistance."
Abu Obeida warned that the occupation's continued presence in the Gaza Strip would lead to further losses, noting that "the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and the bravery of the resistance are what shape the next phase."
The Israeli occupation army announced the killing of five soldiers and the wounding of 14 others, including two seriously, during the operation. It explained that the targeted force was moving on foot inside the town of Beit Hanoun.
According to Army Radio, two explosive devices exploded in quick succession as the force passed, followed by direct gunfire from an ambush targeting the rescue forces, resulting in further injuries and complicating the evacuation process.
The Qassam Brigades later posted a photo on Telegram, threatening more "selective ambushes," noting that funerals would become "a permanent feature as long as the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip continues."
According to Israeli military data, the death toll since the start of the war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, has risen to 888 soldiers, including 444 killed in ground battles. The number of wounded has reached 6,060, including 2,768 wounded during ground operations inside the Gaza Strip.
These developments come amid ongoing Israeli military operations with US support, amid accusations that Israel is imposing strict censorship on the extent of its losses and preventing the circulation of related information and images.
The ambush coincided with the resumption of indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel in the Qatari capital, Doha, aimed at reaching a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement. The Israeli government, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, is being accused of stalling and insisting on continuing the war, despite Hamas's acceptance of previous truce proposals.
Since October 7, Israel has continued its massive military campaign against the Gaza Strip. To date, the campaign has left more than 194,000 dead and wounded, most of them women and children, in addition to thousands of missing persons and hundreds of thousands displaced. This campaign is being waged amid international accusations of committing genocide and violating the decisions of the International Court of Justice, which has repeatedly called for an end to the war.
