The al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, announced on Sunday that its fighters successfully targeted three Israeli Merkava tanks south of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City.

According to the group’s statement, the operation took place near Salah al-Din Mosque and al-Zaytoun Clinic. Fighters confirmed the strike after returning from the frontlines, noting that it was carried out on August 31.

Al-Qassam further recalled that on August 30, its fighters struck a Merkava tank and a D9 military bulldozer using a Yassin-105 shell and a Shawaz explosive device on Street 8, southwest of al-Zaytoun.

The al-Zaytoun neighborhood has emerged as one of the focal points of Palestinian resistance activity in Gaza City. In recent weeks, al-Qassam has carried out multiple operations there, including direct strikes on tanks and complex ambushes targeting Israeli forces fortified inside houses.

Al-Qassam fighters have repeatedly employed locally-produced Yassin-105 shells and Shawaz explosive devices in their anti-tank operations, alongside ambushes designed to lure occupation forces into areas rigged with explosives. These tactics have been credited with inflicting significant losses on Israeli military units attempting to advance into densely populated areas.

Coordinated resistance and shifting tactics

Al-Qassam has also expanded coordination with the al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Together, they have conducted joint attacks on Israeli command posts in Khan Younis, Rafah, and Gaza City, using mortars, anti-tank missiles, and improvised explosive devices.

Israeli military sources have acknowledged the growing effectiveness of Palestinian resistance tactics, noting that Hamas fighters have become "more organized in combat" and increasingly bold in confronting occupation forces.