Hamas armed wing says it captured 3 Israeli drones in Gaza

By Nour Abuaisha

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) - The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian resistance group Hamas, said Friday that it seized three Israeli drones conducting intelligence operations in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza Strip.

In a statement, Al-Qassam said its fighters successfully captured “three Zionist quadcopter drones” while they were on reconnaissance missions in the Al-Jeninah neighborhood east of Rafah.

In recent months, the Israeli military has increasingly deployed quadcopter drones for operations, including targeted killings, launching grenades, and issuing evacuation warnings.

Separately, the movement reported that its fighters targeted Israeli forces advancing in the Al-Bareed area of Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, using heavy mortar shells.

Fighting continues between Palestinian resistance fighters and Israeli forces across multiple fronts, particularly in northern Gaza.

Since Oct. 5, Israel has launched a large-scale ground operation in northern Gaza to allegedly prevent the Palestinian resistance group Hamas from regrouping. Palestinians, however, accuse Israel of seeking to occupy the area and forcibly displace its residents.

Since then, almost no humanitarian aid, including food, medicine, and fuel, has been allowed into the area, leaving the remaining population in the area on the verge of famine.

Nearly 4,000 people have since been killed in northern Gaza, according to Palestinian health authorities.

Israel has launched a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip that has killed more than 44,800 victims, mostly women and children, since Oct. 7, 2023.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last month for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense chief Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on Gaza.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio