Gaza Resistance operation sets APC ablaze, kills 7 soldiers inside
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An explosive device planted by Palestinian Resistance fighters destroyed an Israeli Puma vehicle in Khan Younis, killing seven soldiers.
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An Israeli armored personnel carrier is seen up in flames after al-Qassam Brigades elite forces in al-Shujaiyah in a video published by the Resistance on December 6, 2023. (Al-Qassam Brigades/Military Media)
The Israeli occupation forces confirmed on Wednesday that seven of its personnel, including one officer and six soldiers, were killed in a deadly ambush carried out by the Palestinian Resistance in Khan Younis, located in the southern Gaza Strip.
According to an initial Israeli military investigation, the incident took place on Tuesday afternoon when Resistance fighters detonated an explosive device previously planted along a route used by invading Israeli units. The device struck a Puma-type Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) transporting a combat engineering unit.
The blast caused the APC to ignite with the soldiers still inside. As a result, all seven soldiers perished in the ensuing fire. The severity of the incident reportedly delayed the identification process for several hours due to the condition of the remains.
Upon confirming the deaths, the Israeli army released the identities of six of the deceased soldiers.
Delayed identification and critical injuries in a parallel attack
The ambush in Khan Younis marked one of the deadliest single incidents for the Israeli occupation's forces in recent weeks. In addition to those killed in the explosion, two other soldiers sustained injuries during a separate confrontation in the same area on the same day, one of whom remains in critical condition, according to an official military statement.
Israeli media outlets reacted with alarm to the incident, describing it as “difficult to absorb,” particularly given that the casualties came from two distinct military units. Commentators underscored the psychological toll on both the public and the political establishment in "Israel", framing the ambush as a stark indicator of the growing pressure on the Israeli military in Gaza.
In short, the ambush underscores the capabilities of the Palestinian Resistance in Gaza Strip operations, particularly in areas like Khan Younis, where Israeli units remain vulnerable to unconventional and asymmetrical tactics.
This comes as "Israel" continues its genocidal war on Gaza, with dozens of Palestinians being killed on a daily basis across the Strip, and especially around aid distribution points.
