Israel Under Fire

I was hesitant to update this information yesterday as rumors spread of additional IDF fatalities that were likely still under a military gag order at the time. Sadly and regrettably, it was in fact confirmed this morning that 5 IDF soldiers were killed in yesterday's late afternoon/early evening Hamas tunnel infiltration attack on an IDF outpost near Kibbutz Nahal Oz in southern Israel. This incident comes in addition to the 5 killed earlier in the day. 4 in the mortar attack on the border and 1 in a separate incident in Khan Younis. Bringing the total IDF death toll to 10 for the day.

Israeli soldiers and medical workers evacuate an injured comrade. Ynet

A brief summary of the scene of events appeared in The Times of Israel:

"According to an initial investigation by the IDF, four to seven gunmen emerged from a tunnel 150 meters inside Israel early Tuesday morning, Walla reports. The existence of the tunnel was known to Israeli forces. The assailants managed to reach a pillbox guard tower next to Kibbutz Nahal Oz, and fired an anti-tank missile at the small barracks attached to the pillbox. Five soldiers were killed in that attack.

The terrorists then charged at the position in an attempt to kidnap a soldier and bring him to the Gaza Strip, but a soldier in the top portion of the tower opened fire, hitting one of the attackers. Two other soldiers failed to fire their weapons.The other Hamas gunmen dropped their weapons and slipped back into Gaza. Soldiers searching the area found a rifle and missiles left behind by the Palestinians.

The IDF said that the soldier’s action prevented an infiltration into the kibbutz. Hamas took responsibility for the attack, saying “conditions in the field did not allow” them to finish the mission."

An illustrated map detailing all Hamas cross border raids from Gaza into southern Israel, including tunnel attacks. Daniel Nisman

As new talks of a humanitarian ceasefire intensify once again, both sides are collectively holding their breath to see how things will play out next.