Gaza City witnessed intense fighting in the Zeitoun neighborhood in recent hours, with reports that four Israeli soldiers went missing and two were killed in an ambush carried out by Hamas’s armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, according to Saudi TV, Al Hadath.
Israeli journalists on social media reported a series of “difficult” security incidents inside the Gaza Strip, including the Zeitoun ambush, though the Israeli army has not issued an official statement.
Israeli media reported that the security incident in Gaza involved the detonation of a ‘Namer’ armored vehicle with an explosive device, injuring seven soldiers, three of them in critical condition.
Security sources suggested the Israeli military may have invoked the Hannibal Protocol, which authorizes the use of heavy weapons to prevent the abduction of soldiers, even if it places the captive at risk, according to the Turkish Anadolu Agency.
Television footage showed helicopters circling overhead, flares lighting up Gaza’s skies, and the sound of ongoing clashes.
The escalation followed a warning from Al-Qassam Brigades spokesman Abu Obeida, who said Israel would “pay the price of occupying Gaza City in the blood of its soldiers.” In a Telegram statement, he added: “The occupation of Gaza will increase the chances of capturing new soldiers. The Israeli captives will remain with our fighters in the battle zones, sharing the same risks and conditions.”
The clashes come as the Israeli army has intensified its airstrikes on Gaza City neighborhoods since early Friday, declaring the city a dangerous combat zone.
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