Hamas Pledges Increased Israeli Casualties Following Beit Hanoun Offensive

Abu Obeida, representing the military wing of Hamas, al-Qassam Brigades, announced on Tuesday that a recent intricate operation in Beit Hanoun had considerably impacted the standing of the Israeli armed forces. He cautioned that further setbacks await the occupying troops in the Gaza Strip.

Abu Obeida, in a statement released on Telegram, asserted that the recent operation was aimed at a location Israeli forces presumed to be vacant after it had been entirely destroyed. “Our fighters initiated their assault from the very rubble that the occupiers assumed was lifeless,” he stated.

Abu Obeida stated that the Resistance fighters persist in their “war of attrition” against Israeli forces throughout the Gaza Strip, spanning from north to south. According to him, this ongoing conflict continues to result in daily losses for the Israeli side. “The war of attrition our fighters are fighting… will continue to cost the enemy more losses by the day,” he affirmed.

He further cautioned that although Israel had previously been able to retrieve its soldiers from what he termed “the inferno,” it would not achieve the same outcome again, suggesting the likelihood of more Israeli soldiers being captured in upcoming conflicts.

Addressing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly, Abu Obeida labeled the decision to maintain occupation forces within Gaza as “the most foolish,” warning that such an action would only exacerbate losses and extend military setbacks. He asserted that the resilience of the Palestinian people and the courage of the Resistance define the current power dynamics and shape the future course.

Following a lethal ambush against Israeli forces in northern Gaza on Monday night, reports indicate that the attack was executed by Palestinian Resistance fighters in Beit Hanoun. The operation led to the deaths of five soldiers, among them two officers, and left 14 others injured.

Reports suggest that some soldiers were tragically burned to death in an assault that mirrored a previous ambush on June 24.

The most recent operation is reported to have taken place in Beit Hanoun, a town located in the northern part of Gaza, which has been experiencing continuous Israeli airstrikes since October 7, 2023.

Israeli media have characterized the operation as “extremely serious,” noting it as one of the most intricate confrontations since the onset of the conflict.