Latest news with #NetzahYehuda
Al Mayadeen
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Mayadeen
No visits by Netanyahu to families of soldiers killed in Gaza
Israeli newspaper Haaretz confirmed that 62 soldiers from the Israeli occupation forces had been killed in the Gaza Strip since the start of 2025. The report underscored that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had not visited any of the bereaved families of the soldiers who were killed. Israeli media also reported the death of an Israeli contractor working alongside the occupation forces in northern Gaza. Earlier this week, the Israeli occupation forces acknowledged that five soldiers from the Netzah Yehuda battalion were killed and two others were wounded following the detonation of explosive devices during confrontations in northern Gaza. The initial admission came after Israeli media had circulated preliminary reports of casualties. However, subsequent updates from Israeli outlets revealed that a total of 14 Israeli soldiers had been injured in the same incident. Among the wounded, two were listed as being in critical condition, six sustained moderate injuries, and another six were lightly wounded. Israeli media outlets described the incident in northern Gaza as 'extremely serious' and 'one of the most complex security events' since the outbreak of the war on October 7, 2023. This comes in light of a deadly ambush targeting Israeli occupation forces in northern Gaza late on Monday, carried out by Palestinian Resistance fighters. The operation killed five soldiers, including two officers, and wounded 14 others. Some of the soldiers were reportedly burned to death during the operation, which closely resembled a previous ambush on June 24, when seven Israeli troops were killed after Palestinian Resistance fighters targeted an armored combat engineering unit. The latest operation is believed to have occurred in Beit Hanoun, a town in northern Gaza that has been under relentless Israeli bombardment since October 7, 2023. Israeli media described the operation as "extremely serious" and one of the most complex confrontations since the war began. Read more: Abu Obeida: Captive area surrounded, you won't retrieve him alive The complex operation in Beit Hanoun, which targeted an area the occupation forces believed to be empty after completely leveling it, dealt a significant blow to the prestige of the Israeli military, said Abu Obeida, spokesperson for the al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas. In a statement published on Telegram on Tuesday, Abu Obeida added that the war of attrition being waged by Resistance fighters across the Gaza Strip, from north to south, continues to inflict daily losses on the Israeli occupation. "Our fighters launched their attack from the very ruins the occupation believed were devoid of life," Abu Obeida stated, adding, "The war of attrition our fighters are fighting across the entire Gaza Strip, from the North to the South, will continue to cost the enemy more losses by the day." He also warned that even if the occupation previously managed to extract its soldiers from what he described as "the inferno", it would not succeed again, alluding to the potential for more Israeli soldiers to be captured in future confrontations. Directly addressing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Abu Obeida said the decision to keep occupation forces inside Gaza was "the most foolish," cautioning that such a move would only deepen the occupation's losses and prolong its failure on the battlefield.
Saudi Gazette
4 days ago
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Israeli defense minister boasts destruction of Beit Hanoun amid Gaza offensive
TEL AVIV — Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Friday shared an aerial image of Beit Hanoun, a city in northern Gaza, boasting of its total destruction and declaring, "After Rafah and Beit Hanoun ... there is no refuge for terrorism." The image, posted to Katz's official X account, depicts a flattened urban landscape — reduced to rubble and ruins — revealing the extent of devastation inflicted on the town. Beit Hanoun, located along Gaza's northern border with Israel, was among the first areas invaded by the Israeli army during its ground operation that began on October 28, 2023. More than 21 months into the war on Gaza, Palestinian armed factions have continued to launch organized ambushes in the area, challenging Israel's military objectives. Last week, five Israeli soldiers from the 'Netzah Yehuda' Battalion were killed and 14 others injured — two critically — in an attack in Beit Hanoun, according to official Israeli military reports. A military investigation confirmed that Hamas fighters detonated three explosive devices targeting an Israeli foot patrol, followed by direct gunfire. The Israeli military has increasingly relied on heavy artillery and aerial bombardment to enforce control over Beit Hanoun, which it recently claimed to have surrounded. On June 2, 2024, Gaza's Municipal Emergency Committee declared Beit Hanoun a 'disaster area' due to near-total destruction of infrastructure, essential services, and the collapse of humanitarian conditions. Before the war, the town had a population of around 60,000 spread over 17,000 dunams. Despite mounting global pressure, Israel continues to reject calls for a ceasefire. Since the launch of its full-scale offensive in late October 2023, Israeli bombardments have killed nearly 57,800 Palestinians, most of them women and children. The destruction has triggered catastrophic humanitarian conditions across Gaza, with widespread food shortages, the collapse of medical facilities, and the rapid spread of disease. The war has drawn international legal scrutiny. In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over war crimes and crimes against humanity. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice. — Agencies
CNN
4 days ago
- Politics
- CNN
Battered but not beaten, Hamas embraces guerilla tactics with deadly force
The deadly surprise attack in Gaza was almost as shocking as its location. On Monday night, a group of Israeli soldiers walked across a route used by tanks and armored vehicles about a mile from the border fence when a bomb exploded. Remotely operated, it tore into the troops from the Netzah Yehuda battalion, a unit made up of ultra-Orthodox soldiers. More Israeli forces rushed to their aid as a second bomb exploded, also remotely operated. When a third bomb went off moments later, it came with a hail of small arms fire from a Hamas cell that had been hiding nearby. Within minutes, five Israeli soldiers had been killed and 14 more wounded, some with critical injuries. The attack took place in the city of Beit Hanoun in Gaza's northeast corner, easily visible from the Israeli city of Sderot, in territory that was supposed to be under Israeli military control. An initial investigation found the Hamas cell placed the bombs within the previous 24 hours, preparing an ambush against Israeli forces, who likely believed they were operating in relative safety so close to Israeli territory. The complex attack highlights a Hamas shift to guerilla-stye tactics as the militant group, battered and weakened after nearly 21 months of war, wages an insurgency campaign against the Israeli military. But even in its depleted state, Hamas has continued to mount deadly attacks against Israeli forces in the strip. Throughout the war, Israeli forces have had to return to parts of Gaza multiple times as Hamas reemerges in areas Israel claimed it had cleared. The recent string of attacks shows that Israel's goal of eradicating Hamas remains very elusive. Hamas' military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, said Monday's attack happened 'in an area the occupation thought was safe after leaving no stone unturned.' In a statement, Hamas described the war as a 'battle of attrition' waged against Israel, one in which it would attempt to add to the soldiers it seized during the Oct. 7 attacks. 'Even if it miraculously succeeded recently in freeing its soldiers from hell, it may fail later, leaving us with additional prisoners,' Hamas said. On Wednesday, Hamas militants targeted an Israeli military engineering vehicle in Khan Younis, launching a rocket-propelled grenade and charging the vehicle as the driver tried to flee, as seen in a video of the attack released by Hamas. According to the Israeli military, the militants tried to abduct the soldier, killing him in the process. The attempt was thwarted by Israeli forces operating in the area. In a statement posted on Telegram two days later, the Al-Qassam Brigades vowed 'the fate of the next soldier will be better as our new prisoner.' The brutal, grinding war of Gaza contrasts sharply with Israel's quick and precise operation in Iran, a campaign carried out by air and on land without any military casualties. Since the end of the 12-day Israel-Iran conflict, at least 19 soldiers have been killed in Gaza, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), including the attack in Beit Hanoun. On the day of the Israel-Iran ceasefire, a Hamas militant threw an incendiary device down the open hatch of an armored engineering vehicle in southern Gaza, killing all seven soldiers inside. The attack was one of the deadliest incidents in months for the IDF in Gaza. Former IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said in January that Israel had killed 20,000 Hamas fighters since the beginning of the war. Israel has also assassinated much of the terror organization's top leadership. But Hamas has recruited new fighters as well, a senior Israeli military official said earlier this year, replenishing their ranks. In March, Israel's public broadcast, Kan News, reported that Hamas had recruited 'hundreds' of new fighters. What remains is a loosely organized group of militant cells, able to carry out hit-and-run attacks, using what remains of Gaza's underground tunnel network to move and stay hidden, according to Retired Maj. Gen Israel Ziv, former head of the IDF's Operations Directorate. Hamas has had time to study how the IDF operates, Ziv told CNN, and they are turning that to their advantage. 'Their war is built around our weaknesses. They don't defend territory — they seek targets,' he said. Ziv said the strain on Israel's military manpower has allowed Hamas to exploit vulnerabilities, even in its weakened state. 'Hamas has undergone a transformation — it has become a guerrilla organization operating in small cells. It has an abundance of explosives, much of it from the munitions the IDF has dropped there. This is a war of IEDs. Hamas is creating ambushes and taking initiative by controlling key bottlenecks,' said Ziv. Operating as decentralized, independent groups has made it harder for Israel to target a cohesive leadership structure. Last month, an Israeli military official told CNN that it has become more difficult to effectively target what remains of Hamas. 'It's harder now to achieve tactical goals,' the official said. Hamas long ago expended the vast majority of its rocket arsenal, able now to launch only sporadic rockets that have near-zero impact. But their ability to move among the ruins of Gaza, armed with improvised explosive devices culled from tens of thousands of Israeli munitions, has turned the rubble of the besieged enclave into a source of resilience. Challenged by armed gangs in southern Gaza and a population that has expressed open anger at Hamas, the militant group has nevertheless found a way to continue the fight, exacting a deadly price with each passing week that goes by without a ceasefire. Even with talks ongoing in Doha and signs of some progress, a ceasefire remains elusive, with mediators so far unable to bridge the key gaps between the sides. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during his recent trip to Washington, DC that Hamas must lay down its arms, ceding its military and governing capability, or Israel will resume the war. But Hamas has shown no willingness to make such major concessions in negotiations, and the recent attacks are an indication of the power they still retain. CNN's Ibrahim Dahman contributed to this report.
CNN
4 days ago
- Politics
- CNN
Battered but not beaten, Hamas embraces guerilla tactics with deadly force
The deadly surprise attack in Gaza was almost as shocking as its location. On Monday night, a group of Israeli soldiers walked across a route used by tanks and armored vehicles about a mile from the border fence when a bomb exploded. Remotely operated, it tore into the troops from the Netzah Yehuda battalion, a unit made up of ultra-Orthodox soldiers. More Israeli forces rushed to their aid as a second bomb exploded, also remotely operated. When a third bomb went off moments later, it came with a hail of small arms fire from a Hamas cell that had been hiding nearby. Within minutes, five Israeli soldiers had been killed and 14 more wounded, some with critical injuries. The attack took place in the city of Beit Hanoun in Gaza's northeast corner, easily visible from the Israeli city of Sderot, in territory that was supposed to be under Israeli military control. An initial investigation found the Hamas cell placed the bombs within the previous 24 hours, preparing an ambush against Israeli forces, who likely believed they were operating in relative safety so close to Israeli territory. The complex attack highlights a Hamas shift to guerilla-stye tactics as the militant group, battered and weakened after nearly 21 months of war, wages an insurgency campaign against the Israeli military. But even in its depleted state, Hamas has continued to mount deadly attacks against Israeli forces in the strip. Throughout the war, Israeli forces have had to return to parts of Gaza multiple times as Hamas reemerges in areas Israel claimed it had cleared. The recent string of attacks shows that Israel's goal of eradicating Hamas remains very elusive. Hamas' military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, said Monday's attack happened 'in an area the occupation thought was safe after leaving no stone unturned.' In a statement, Hamas described the war as a 'battle of attrition' waged against Israel, one in which it would attempt to add to the soldiers it seized during the Oct. 7 attacks. 'Even if it miraculously succeeded recently in freeing its soldiers from hell, it may fail later, leaving us with additional prisoners,' Hamas said. On Wednesday, Hamas militants targeted an Israeli military engineering vehicle in Khan Younis, launching a rocket-propelled grenade and charging the vehicle as the driver tried to flee, as seen in a video of the attack released by Hamas. According to the Israeli military, the militants tried to abduct the soldier, killing him in the process. The attempt was thwarted by Israeli forces operating in the area. In a statement posted on Telegram two days later, the Al-Qassam Brigades vowed 'the fate of the next soldier will be better as our new prisoner.' The brutal, grinding war of Gaza contrasts sharply with Israel's quick and precise operation in Iran, a campaign carried out by air and on land without any military casualties. Since the end of the 12-day Israel-Iran conflict, at least 19 soldiers have been killed in Gaza, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), including the attack in Beit Hanoun. On the day of the Israel-Iran ceasefire, a Hamas militant threw an incendiary device down the open hatch of an armored engineering vehicle in southern Gaza, killing all seven soldiers inside. The attack was one of the deadliest incidents in months for the IDF in Gaza. Former IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said in January that Israel had killed 20,000 Hamas fighters since the beginning of the war. Israel has also assassinated much of the terror organization's top leadership. But Hamas has recruited new fighters as well, a senior Israeli military official said earlier this year, replenishing their ranks. In March, Israel's public broadcast, Kan News, reported that Hamas had recruited 'hundreds' of new fighters. What remains is a loosely organized group of militant cells, able to carry out hit-and-run attacks, using what remains of Gaza's underground tunnel network to move and stay hidden, according to Retired Maj. Gen Israel Ziv, former head of the IDF's Operations Directorate. Hamas has had time to study how the IDF operates, Ziv told CNN, and they are turning that to their advantage. 'Their war is built around our weaknesses. They don't defend territory — they seek targets,' he said. Ziv said the strain on Israel's military manpower has allowed Hamas to exploit vulnerabilities, even in its weakened state. 'Hamas has undergone a transformation — it has become a guerrilla organization operating in small cells. It has an abundance of explosives, much of it from the munitions the IDF has dropped there. This is a war of IEDs. Hamas is creating ambushes and taking initiative by controlling key bottlenecks,' said Ziv. Operating as decentralized, independent groups has made it harder for Israel to target a cohesive leadership structure. Last month, an Israeli military official told CNN that it has become more difficult to effectively target what remains of Hamas. 'It's harder now to achieve tactical goals,' the official said. Hamas long ago expended the vast majority of its rocket arsenal, able now to launch only sporadic rockets that have near-zero impact. But their ability to move among the ruins of Gaza, armed with improvised explosive devices culled from tens of thousands of Israeli munitions, has turned the rubble of the besieged enclave into a source of resilience. Challenged by armed gangs in southern Gaza and a population that has expressed open anger at Hamas, the militant group has nevertheless found a way to continue the fight, exacting a deadly price with each passing week that goes by without a ceasefire. Even with talks ongoing in Doha and signs of some progress, a ceasefire remains elusive, with mediators so far unable to bridge the key gaps between the sides. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during his recent trip to Washington, DC that Hamas must lay down its arms, ceding its military and governing capability, or Israel will resume the war. But Hamas has shown no willingness to make such major concessions in negotiations, and the recent attacks are an indication of the power they still retain. CNN's Ibrahim Dahman contributed to this report.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Explained: Israel's Netzah Yehuda batallion & allegations against it
Five Israeli soldiers were killed and 14 wounded during an operation in northern Gaza, the Israeli military announced on Tuesday. Four of the deceased belonged to the Netzah Yehuda battalion. Formerly known as Nahal Haredi, the Netzah Yehuda ('Judah's Victory') battalion was raised in 1999 for young Jews who dropped out of ultra-Orthodox or Haredi religious schools. This was to accommodate the community's stringent religious practices, such as avoiding interaction with women who are also required to serve in the Israeli military. The battalion is a part of the Kfir Brigade, the largest infantry brigade in the Israel Defense Forces. Most of the recruits come from underprivileged backgrounds, or are settlers who have been born and raised in Israel-occupied Palestinian territories. The motto of the battalion is 'And your camp must be holy,' a line taken from Torah, the compilation of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. Allegations against unit Carlo Aldrovandi, assistant professor at Trinity College Dublin, wrote in The Conversation that the members of the Netzah Yehuda battalion take their motto literally, believing that they are indeed on a 'holy mission'. 'This contributes to a culture that encourages unrestrained violence against non-Jewish populations,' he wrote. Over the years, the battalion has been accused of a number of human rights violations, such as abusing, killing, shooting dead, sexually assaulting, and torturing Palestinian civilians. In January 2022, a 78-year-old Palestinian-American died after being detained by Netzah Yehuda soldiers in the occupied West Bank. The autopsy revealed that he died of a heart attack after the soldiers left him tied up and gagged. In April 2024, an opinion piece by The Haaretz described the battalion as 'a kind of an independent militia that doesn't obey the army's rules'. The Netzah Yehuda battalion has been in combat across Gaza since October 7, 2023. In July 2024, an investigation by CNN revealed that former commanders of the battalion had been promoted to senior positions in the IDF, and were training Israeli ground troops and running operations in Gaza. A whistleblower told CNN that the battalion's soldiers 'pretty much get a carte blanche, where they can do more or less whatever they want' in the Strip. He also said that these soldiers got two weeks off as compensation for killing a 'terrorist' which was 'quite an attractive reward for someone that's spending a lot of time in the military'. In April 2024, the United States sought to sanction members of the battalion for abuses committed in the West Bank. These sanctions, however, never went through.
