A series of catastrophic attacks on Israeli tanks in the Gaza Strip have been attributed to the military branch of the Hamas movement, according to an Al Jazeera report. Statements from the Qassam Brigades claim that their forces fired an al-Yassin 105 rocket against a Merkava 4 tank on Baghdad Street in Gaza City's eastern Shujayea district, where there have been reports of heavy fighting.
Additionally, the organization reported via Telegram that a second Merkava 4 tank was hit by a Shawaz antitank weapon in Rafah city's southern Tal as-Sultan area.
The strikes on the Israeli armored corps' mainstay, the cutting-edge Merkava tanks, deal a serious damage to the Israeli military's capabilities in the Gaza theater.
The Qassam Brigades' increasing tactical sophistication and arsenal are demonstrated by their employment of advanced anti-tank weapons. With frequent skirmishes and gunfire between the two sides in the Gaza Strip, the most recent attacks coincide with a larger uptick in violence.
Despite international appeals for a ceasefire, the Israeli military has persisted in its onslaught within the enclave, resulting in an increasing number of casualties on both sides.
Since the crisis began in October 2023, over 36,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza, the great majority of them were women and children, according to the most recent statistics. Israel is under international pressure to cease its activities in the southern city of Rafah immediately after the UN accused it of committing acts of genocide.