Al-Qassam Brigades said it destroyed an Israeli tank and struck troop gatherings in Gaza City as part of its response to the Israeli army’s “Gideon Chariots 2” offensive.

The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian Resistance Movement Hamas, announced that its fighters destroyed an Israeli Merkava tank using a Yassin 105 missile in the Tel al-Hawa area, south of Gaza City.

Al-Qassam also released footage purporting to show the destruction of an Israeli military vehicle that had advanced into Tel al-Hawa. The video depicted the vehicle engulfed in flames and thick smoke after being struck by resistance fighters.

In addition, Al-Qassam stated that it targeted Israeli troop concentrations at the Karni site, east of Gaza City, with mortar shells and 114mm Rajum rockets.

The group described these operations as part of its response to Israel’s ongoing war of extermination in Gaza and to the occupation army’s “Gideon Chariots 2” operation, aimed at seizing Gaza City and displacing its population.

Gaza City Under Siege: Massacre near Firas Market, Ongoing Strikes and Raids

Ongoing Genocide

Since reneging on the ceasefire on March 18, Israel has continued its bloody aerial bombardment across the Gaza Strip, killing and wounding thousands of Palestinians.

Starting on October 7, 2023, the Israeli military, with American support, launched a genocidal war against the people of Gaza. This campaign has so far resulted in the deaths of more than 65,000 Palestinians, with more than 165,000 wounded. The vast majority of the population has been displaced, and the destruction of infrastructure is unprecedented since World War II. Thousands of people are still missing.

In addition to the military assault, the Israeli blockade has caused a man-made famine, leading to the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians—mostly children—with hundreds of thousands more at risk.

Despite widespread international condemnation, little has been done to hold Israel accountable. The nation is currently under investigation for genocide by the International Court of Justice, while accused war criminals, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, are officially wanted by the International Criminal Court. 

(PC, AJA)