Al-Qassam Brigades shows image said to be Israeli soldier ambushed a week ago

By Mohammed Majed

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) - The Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing, on Saturday revealed what it said was the corpse of an Israeli soldier ambushed in the Jabaliya area in the northern Gaza Strip on May 26, nearly a week ago.

Accompanied by scenes of the brigades fighting the Israeli army, a Telegram video clip gave details about the battle, and at the end of the video, it showed a body, saying: “One of the members of the targeted force, a body in our possession, you know his identity well.”

They added, "Why do you lie to your audience? Is he one of the (missing in action) mercenaries that you have not announced since Oct. 7, 2023? Or is your racism present even in distinguishing between your dead?"

"You are invited to get to know this soldier and the rest of the members of the force who fell, among the killed, wounded, and captured,” the video added.

In a message to the families of the Israeli dead and hostages in Gaza, Al-Qassam added, "Do not believe your government or your army."

The body shown was indicated in the video as belonging to an Israeli soldier who had been ambushed, but it was not clear if he died during the battle or due to his war wounds after being captured.

On May 26, Abu Obaida, spokesperson for the brigades, said their fighters had succeeded in capturing more Israeli soldiers during an operation in the Gaza Strip.

This was the first operation to capture Israeli soldiers announced by resistance factions since Israel began its war on Gaza last Oct. 7

At that time, Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee denied any capture of soldiers from the army in Gaza.

On Friday, the Israeli army announced in a statement that it had ended its nearly three-week military operation in Jabaliya in the northern Gaza Strip, during which 10 of its soldiers were killed.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala in Istanbul​​​​​​​