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Daily News Egypt
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily News Egypt
Escalation in Gaza as Israeli airstrikes intensify, ceasefire talks stagnate
Israel's war on Gaza entered its 647th day on Monday amid a significant escalation in airstrikes and artillery bombardments. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, the ongoing assault has killed more than 58,386 Palestinians and injured over 139,077 since October 7, 2023. Overnight, Israeli forces struck multiple areas of Khan Younis, including the destruction of tents sheltering displaced persons in the city's western sector and the leveling of homes in the Al-Katiba and Al-Bayouk neighborhoods. The ministry reported 120 deaths and 557 injuries in the past 24 hours alone, including five aid seekers. The total number of aid-seeking victims has now risen to 838 dead and more than 5,575 injured. Meanwhile, Palestinian resistance factions have intensified their attacks on Israeli forces. Hamas's military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, reported targeting an Israeli armored personnel carrier in northern Khan Younis with a guided missile. The Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, claimed responsibility for destroying a military vehicle, a Merkava 4 tank, and a bulldozer east of Gaza City. They also reported launching an armed ambush on an Israeli engineering unit, resulting in casualties and a helicopter evacuation. Israeli media confirmed the deaths of three soldiers and the critical injury of another in eastern Gaza. There were also reports that Palestinian fighters attempted to capture an Israeli soldier during the clashes. Separately, several soldiers were reportedly killed in an anti-tank missile strike in Jabalia, northern Gaza. Despite the intensifying violence, indirect ceasefire negotiations continue. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff expressed 'optimism' on Sunday about the potential for an agreement, saying he planned to meet with senior Qatari officials to discuss recent developments. Former President Donald Trump also voiced hope that a resolution could be reached within days. However, skepticism remains. Israeli media reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to discuss a potential prisoner exchange deal with Hamas. Both ministers reportedly demanded a firm commitment from Netanyahu to resume full-scale military operations following the first phase of any deal. Hamas, for its part, accused Netanyahu of deliberately undermining the negotiations, dismissing the notion of an 'absolute victory' as a 'myth used to cover up a devastating political and battlefield defeat.' The group added that its fighters are engaged in a war of attrition, using surprise tactics that have disrupted the Israeli military's operations. Israeli Channel 14 reported that the army's current mission is to 'completely destroy Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza' to eliminate Hamas fighters entrenched in tunnels before any ceasefire agreement is reached. Channel 12 added that Israel is expected to present new withdrawal maps, including plans to maintain control over the strategic Morag corridor. On the humanitarian front, international agencies have warned of a rapidly worsening crisis. UNICEF reported that over 5,800 children were diagnosed with malnutrition in June alone. Meanwhile, the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) noted a sharp rise in malnutrition cases at its Gaza clinics since March, attributing the surge to Israel's tightened blockade.
Al Bawaba
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
Gaza clashes escalate as Al-Qassam hits Israeli forces
ALBAWABA - The Al-Qassam Brigades announced the killing and injury of their fighters after detonating an explosive device against Israeli soldiers east of Gaza's Tuffah area, amid escalating clashes and Israeli threats to intensify operations. Also Read Footage shows Al-Qassam sniper operations against Israeli soldiers The Al-Qassam Brigades have confirmed that their fighters have been killed and injured as a result of the explosion of an explosive device that was made against an Israeli unit that was located east of the Tuffah area. On Sunday, the Al-Qassam Brigades made the announcement that their fighters had detonated an anti-personnel explosive device against Israeli army soldiers who were moving east of the Tuffah area, which is located north of the Gaza Strip. The Al-Qassam Brigades have confirmed that their fighters have been killed and injured as a result of the explosion of an explosive device that was made against an Israeli unit that was located east of the Tuffah area. RT's screenshots show scenes from the "Breaking the Sword" ambush, which was carried out by the Al-Qassam Brigades in the northern part of Gaza. A statement made available on its Telegram channel stated: "Al-Qassam fighters were able to detonate an anti-personnel device against a number of occupation soldiers, killing and wounding them east of the Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City." Additionally, the Al-Qassam Brigades made the announcement that they had struck "a Zionist Merkava 4 tank with an Al-Yasin 105 missile east of the Tuffah neighborhood." On Saturday, Israeli media outlets disclosed information of a conflict that took place between the Israeli army and Palestinian militants to the east of the Shuja'iyya area, which is located opposite to the Tuffah district. A force from the 16th Reserve Brigade and the Yamas unit attacked a group of resistance fighters around one kilometer and a half away from the border fence. This occurred during an assault that was being conducted by the Israeli army. On the other hand, they were ambushed, and fighting broke out inside a residential building, which ultimately led to the murder of a member of the covert squad. In the aftermath of the conflict, the Israeli military initiated a complicated rescue effort that lasted for roughly two hours. During this time period, troops belonging to the Palestinian resistance were exposed to five anti-tank missile assaults as well as machine gun fire from Palestinian soldiers. Additionally, Israeli troops were exposed to anti-tank missile and machine gun fire once again, which resulted in two additional soldiers suffering moderate injuries. As part of its attempts to exert pressure on Hamas to meet its requirements in prisoner swap discussions, the Israeli army has threatened to dramatically increase its military operations in the Gaza Strip in the coming days. This would include the deployment of more reserve units.
Al Bawaba
20-04-2025
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
"It's on Fire!" – Explosive footage of Al-Qassam's tank attacks
ALBAWABA - Al Jazeera aired exclusive footage on Sunday showing fighters from the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, targeting Israeli armored vehicles on the outskirts of Al-Tuffah neighborhood in eastern Gaza City. The footage captures Al-Qassam fighters emerging from a tunnel and striking two Israeli Merkava tanks with Yassin-105 anti-armor shells. The exclamation "It's on fire!" can be heard, indicating direct hits and subsequent fires breaking out on the tanks. A third Israeli tank was also struck from inside a destroyed building using the same type of anti-tank missile. Last Wednesday, Al-Qassam Brigades announced they had targeted three Merkava 4 tanks in the same area within a 24-hour period using Yassin-105 shells. The group also claimed it had carried out a complex ambush against an Israeli force advancing in the Jabal al-Sourani area east of Al-Tuffah, resulting in multiple casualties among Israeli troops. This is the first such combat footage released by Al-Qassam since Israel resumed its military campaign on Gaza, following its withdrawal from a previously agreed-upon ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal reached with Palestinian resistance factions in January.
