The IDF on Wednesday unveiled a video with unusual clarity and detail of a full-fledged gunfight between soldiers from the IDF's 7th Armored Brigade and a Hamas terror cell in the Rafah area of deep southern Gaza.
Few clear videos have emerged since summer 2024, not just because of the ceasefire, but also because large-scale clashes between Hamas forces and Israeli troops have become rare following Hamas’s defeat in Rafah at the time.
Most fighting has involved one or two terrorists at a time, emerging quickly from a tunnel to stage a guerrilla-style attack before fleeing or fighting in tunnels where it is hard to get a clear video image.
The six Hamas fighters were spotted by IDF surveillance on Tuesday, trying to surprise and ambush the military.
Two IDF tanks were sent to deal with Hamas, but the terrorists succeeded in hitting one of the tanks around three times, according to the short video.
However, the tanks were not destroyed and shortly after unleashed a massive volume of return fire at the terrorists.
The video does not show the IDF’s reported airstrikes on Hamas in the area. However, the position where the six terrorists stood can be seen falling apart, with sparks and other undefined items flying into the air from the force of the IDF’s counter-fire.
IDF confirms all six Hamas terrorists killed after additional operations in area
An initial IDF report said that two of the terrorists were killed, and others were being pursued.
However, after completing their counter-fire and additional operations – not recorded on video – the IDF determined that all six terrorists were killed.
They also found extensive weapons around the terrorists.
The IDF said that the Hamas fighters were infringing on the 53% of Gaza under Israeli control, in violation of the ceasefire.