Israeli media confirmed the killing of several soldiers, the wounding of 11 others, and the disappearance of 4 troops feared to have fallen captive to the Palestinian resistance. Outlets described the incident as the most significant security event since the Al-Aqsa Flood Operation of October 7, 2023.
The clashes unfolded in the Al-Zaytoun and Al-Sabra neighbourhoods of Gaza City, where a series of resistance operations targeted Israeli occupation forces. According to Hebrew reports, the confrontation began with an offensive ambush in which soldiers were killed. In response, the Israeli army activated the notorious Hannibal Protocol—a directive that allows lethal fire on its own forces to prevent them from being captured alive.
Evacuation helicopters came under heavy fire, and Israeli outlets suggested that units from the 162nd Division and the 401st Armored Brigade were caught in the ambush east of Gaza City.
Military Censorship and Silent Retreat
Hebrew media reported that the army has already begun withdrawing troops from Al-Zaytoun and returning them to their bases, while imposing a sweeping military censorship ban on publishing details of what happened to the four missing soldiers.
Preliminary reports indicated that resistance fighters staged another ambush in Al-Zaytoun, inflicting a “serious security incident.” Multiple helicopters were reportedly dispatched to evacuate the wounded under intense gunfire.
Meanwhile, large-scale search operations were launched for the four missing soldiers, with concerns mounting that they may be in the custody of the resistance.
Casualties Flow to Tel Aviv Hospitals
Israeli outlets confirmed that military helicopters transported wounded soldiers to Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv. At the same time, Israeli warplanes flew at low altitude while artillery shelled eastern Gaza, intensifying the atmosphere of battle.
Despite the censorship ban, Palestinian sources noted that Al-Qassam Brigades later published an image bearing the words: “We remind those who forget: death or captivity.”
Resistance Momentum
The losses come only hours after Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), announced a string of operations against Israeli troops and vehicles over recent days.
The developments also follow a fresh warning from Abu Ubaida, the spokesman for Al-Qassam, who declared that Israeli forces would pay a heavy price if they attempted to storm Gaza City.
