IOF detail Gaza's al-Shujaiya ambush that killed two troops
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The two troops were killed amid intense fighting with the Palestinian Resistance.
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Israeli troops are crossing into occupied Palestinian territories from the Gaza Strip, on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025 (AP)
An Israeli soldier and an Israeli police officer were killed on Friday afternoon during fighting in Gaza City’s al-Shujaiya neighborhood, the Israeli occupation military and police announced.
The slain soldier was a platoon commander in the 401st Armored Brigade’s 46th Battalion, while the police officer belonged to the so-called Border Police’s Yamas covert unit.
An initial Israeli military probe indicated that during operations in al-Shujaiya, troops from the Jerusalem Reserve Infantry Brigade and members of the Yamas unit had allegedly set up "an ambush" inside a building.
Around 4:40 pm, Palestinian Resistance fighters arrived at the ambush location, prompting Israeli forces to open fire. During the exchange, the Yamas officer was killed.
Following the initial firefight, rescue forces were dispatched to extract the troops. At approximately 4:55 pm, a military Humvee attempting to reach the ambush site was hit by RPG fire, leaving one soldier moderately wounded.
Nearly an hour later, several Israeli tanks involved in the rescue effort came under further RPG attack by Resistance fighters in al-Shujaiya. One of the projectiles struck and killed the platoon commander and lightly wounded another soldier.
Later, two reservists from the Jerusalem Brigade’s 7007th Battalion sustained moderate injuries from RPG and arms fire in the same area.
Growing anger among senior IOF officers: 'Either destroy Gaza or withdraw from it'
In a related context, "Israel's" Channel 14 reported growing anger among senior officers in the Israeli military, quoting them as saying, "A decision must be made: either destroy Gaza or withdraw from it; the blood of soldiers is not cheap."
In this context, "Israel's" Channel 12 military correspondent stated that "the army has been operating in Gaza without a clear objective since the end of the ceasefire."
He added that "there is neither a large-scale military operation nor genuine political action," noting that "fighters are being put at risk daily without achieving any significant security gains or making progress on the return of captives."
The correspondent stressed that "it is time for decision-makers to make a choice: either a deal or a war."
Footage: Al-Qassam snipers strike 4 Israeli soldiers in northern Gaza
Earlier on Saturday, the Military Media of the al-Qassam Brigades published footage documenting its Resistance fighters sniping four Israeli occupation soldiers and officers in the northern Gaza Strip.
The Brigades said the operation was carried out using the locally manufactured "Ghoul" rifle and that it took place on al-Awda Street, east of Beit Hanoun.
The footage also showed al-Qassam fighters targeting Israeli military equipment with anti-armor shells.
كتائب #القسام تنشر مشاهد قنص عدد من جنود وضباط الاحتلال ببندقية "الغول" القسامية على شارع العودة شرق بلدة #بيت_حانون شمال القطاع استكمالاً لكمين "كسر السيف".#الميادين pic.twitter.com/05yLaLmIS3
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) April 26, 2025
Al-Qassam Brigades noted that these operations were part of the "Breaking the Sword" ambush.
On Friday, the group announced that its Resistance fighters had, on Thursday, successfully sniped four Israeli soldiers and officers on al-Awda Street, east of Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza, leaving them killed or wounded.
On the same day, Abu Obeida, the Brigades' spokesperson, affirmed that Palestinian Resistance fighters "continue to engage in heroic battles, carry out well-planned ambushes, and lie in wait for enemy forces" to inflict deadly losses on them.
He stressed that these operations are carried out “at the time, place, and method of the Resistance fighters' choosing,” adding that “their battlefield heroism—from Beit Hanoun to Rafah—is a source of pride, a military miracle, and a call to action for the youth and forces of the entire nation.”
Abu Obeida added that the fighters remain steadfast, fully prepared for confrontation through defensive ambushes and combat tactics, "bound by their oath to fight until victory or martyrdom.”
Details of the ambush
The al-Qassam Brigades carried out the complex "Breaking the Sword" ambush on April 19, 2025.
In detail, al-Qassam stated that its fighters targeted an Israeli military Storm vehicle, used by the Combat Intelligence Battalion of the Gaza Division, with an anti-tank shell, inflicting confirmed casualties.
When Israeli reinforcements arrived for rescue, they were ambushed with an anti-personnel explosive, leaving troops dead and wounded.
كتائب القسام تنشر مشاهد لكمين "كسر السيف" المركب ضد قوات الاحتلال قرب السياج الفاصل شرق بلدة #بيت_حانون شمال قطاع #غزة.#الميادين #طوفان_الأقصى pic.twitter.com/e1c80Ewk7y
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) April 21, 2025
Al-Qassam also confirmed targeting a newly established Israeli military position in the ambush area with four RPG shells, followed by mortar fire, and the group’s military media released footage showing the attack on invading occupation vehicles near the al-Tuffah neighborhood east of Gaza City.
It is noteworthy that, as of April 25, 849 Israeli occupation soldiers have been killed since the start of the war on October 7, 2023, including 412 during "Israel's" ground invasion of the Gaza Strip, according to the Israeli military.
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