Hamas claims to ambush 15 Israeli soldiers in Gaza Strip

By Hamdi Yilmaz

ISTANBUL (AA) – Palestinian group Hamas claimed Wednesday to have ambushed 15 Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip.

In a statement, Hamas said fighters from the group’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, and Islamic Jihad group engaged in clashes with a 15-strong Israeli force at “point-blank range.”

The attack left the Israeli soldiers dead and injured, Hamas said, without providing any details about the location of the attack.

Hamas said in a separate statement that its fighters attacked an Israeli tank with anti-armor shells in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

There was no comment from the Israeli army on the claim.

The Israeli army said early Wednesday that 10 more soldiers had been killed in clashes with Palestinian fighters in the northern Gaza Strip.

Israel has bombarded the Gaza Strip from the air and land, imposed a siege and mounted a ground offensive in retaliation for a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

At least 18,608 Palestinians have been killed and 50,594 injured in the Israeli onslaught since then, according to Gaza’s health authorities.

The Israeli death toll in the Hamas attack stands at 1,200, while around 139 hostages remain in captivity, according to official figures.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar