The al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, recently released footage of a complex ambush targeting an Israeli army unit in the al-Zannah area, east of Khan Younis. The operation resulted in the killing of an Israeli officer and soldier.
Despite the Israeli military’s attempt to restrict its movement to depopulated and devastated border zones to avoid direct clashes with Palestinian fighters, this ambush—and others in eastern Gaza, Jabalia, and Beit Hanoun—expose the resistance’s precise surveillance and planning of Israeli troop movements within Gaza.
The latest operations reveal that Palestinian resistance factions in Gaza are adopting new battlefield tactics, enabling them to maintain pressure after nearly 21 months of war, while inflicting maximum casualties on invading Israeli forces.
Tracking the Army
Most recent resistance operations have taken place along the eastern border strip of Gaza, which Israeli forces had assumed to be fully under their control following mass evacuations and intense bombardment since the war began.
The al-Zannah area, where al-Qassam carried out its June 14 ambush, is part of Bani Suheila, a largely agricultural zone that has been razed and depopulated since early in the war.
Resistance fighters have carried out multiple ambushes in this area. One of the most notable was the “Al-Abrar Ambush” during Ramadan, adding to a long history of confrontations with the Israeli army, which has destroyed this area repeatedly, most notably during the 2014 Gaza war.
A field commander from the Palestinian resistance told Al Jazeera Net that fighters have been closely monitoring the Israeli military’s movement patterns since operations resumed on March 19. He explained that Israeli forces now destroy entire neighborhoods before entering, hoping to avoid direct combat and limit their own casualties.
The commander confirmed that the Israeli army advances slowly, especially in Gaza’s eastern sectors. Although it uses firepower to dominate over 70% of the territory it marked for evacuation, this control is largely superficial.
He interpreted this behavior as a sign that the Israeli military has lost its will to fight, often re-entering the same areas multiple times, not for military gains but to exert political pressure on civilians—fulfilling the objectives of the current Israeli government.
In response, Palestinian resistance units have adapted their tactics, reshaping battlefield strategies to match the occupier’s movements.
Strategic Patience Pays Off
Details shared with Al Jazeera Net reveal that the resistance leadership has adopted a strategy of long-term surveillance and patient engagement. Fighters track Israeli units over several days, allowing them to develop a false sense of security before striking with precision.
According to the commander, resistance groups intensively monitor Israeli supply lines and maneuver routes. They design highly calculated ambushes based on projected movements, opting to wait for larger troop gatherings rather than targeting individual armored vehicles carrying few soldiers.
This approach maximises the impact of limited ammunition stockpiles, ensuring every operation delivers significant battlefield losses.
Over the long months of war, resistance fighters have grown increasingly bold—engaging Israeli troops at point-blank range. In the latest al-Zannah ambush, fighters reportedly chased an Israeli tank using light weapons, forcing it to retreat.
From Beneath the Rubble
Despite Israeli claims of destroying the Gaza tunnel network, Palestinian factions maintain access to tunnels near the eastern border, as evidenced by recent operations in Khan Younis and Beit Hanoun.
Field indicators suggest that many tunnels have been repaired or rerouted, rendering the Israeli narrative of eliminating the underground threat inaccurate.
Fighters have even repurposed the ruins created by Israeli airstrikes. Video footage shows combatants emerging from collapsed buildings and debris, using the destruction itself as natural cover.
These ruins now function as makeshift bunkers and defensive nests, offering concealment from aerial surveillance and enabling ambush operations deep inside enemy lines.
Israeli forces continue to underestimate the resistance’s ability to operate from within the rubble, particularly in areas like Rafah, northern Gaza, and across the eastern corridor. However, the resistance fighters—armed with intimate knowledge of Gaza’s terrain—have turned this familiarity into an unmatched strategic advantage, allowing them to evade detection and launch surprise attacks even in the most devastated areas.
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