The seven-month Israel-Hamas battle has not ended, and efforts to free hostages held by the terrorist group are still on hold. In preparation for an expected large-scale invasion, Israeli soldiers have continued to conduct attacks in the southern Gazan town of Rafah.
IDF Dismiss Hamas Claims of Capture and Killing of Israeli Soldiers
A Hamas official claimed Saturday that an unknown number of Israeli troops had been captured and murdered; however, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) disputed the report.
According to the spokesman, Hamas terrorists “lured” Israeli soldiers into a tunnel in the Jabalia camp in northern Gaza, “killing, capturing, and wounding” all of them.
A brief video provided by Hamas’ military wing, the Al Qassam Brigades, shows an immobile soldier being dragged over the floor. Images of weapons and gear are also displayed.
The IDF rejected the report in a statement on X Saturday, stating, “The IDF clarifies that there is no incident where a soldier was kidnapped.”
Tel Aviv buzzes with sirens as Hamas missiles strike Israel.
Tel Aviv experienced its first siren sound in months on Sunday, following the confirmation by Hamas’ armed branch that it had launched a rocket strike against the largest city in Israel.
The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed branch of Hamas, issued a statement claiming to have launched a projectile assault on Tel Aviv from Rafah.
“We bombed Tel Aviv with a large rocket attack in response to the murders against civilians,” according to the statement.
The Hamas soldiers also uploaded an accompanying video showing what appeared to be rocket traces in the sky.
According to the Israel Defense Forces, sirens were activated throughout central Israel on Sunday in response to the identification of eight projectiles that entered Israeli territory from the Rafah region.”The IDF Aerial Defense Array successfully intercepted a number of the projectiles,” according to an IDF statement.
The National Emergency Medical Service (MDA) of Israel stated that no significant injuries were reported.
“Following the Red Alert sirens heard in the central region of the country: MDA teams did not find any casualties at any of the scenes, other than a patient who was lightly injured on the way to the protected environment, and several victims with stress symptoms,” the MDA stated in a statement.
Throughout the war, Hamas has launched rocket strikes on Gaza and surrounding regions, but it has not launched longer-range missiles in months. Sirens have not rung in Tel Aviv for four months due to Gaza-related missile assaults.
Rough seas caused four US boats to break free near JLOTS harbor.
Four US Army warships that were part of the JLOTS temporary harbor operation transporting humanitarian aid to Gaza broke free from their anchors on Saturday due to heavy seas and wound up beached near the Gaza harbor and Ashkelon, Israel, according to US Central Command.
“Efforts to recover the vessels are currently underway with support from the Israeli Navy,” Central Command stated.
There were no casualties reported, and no US forces would enter Gaza during the recovery attempts, according to Central Command.
3 US servicemen were injured, 1 in severe condition, in an accident connected to the dock off Gaza
According to U.S. Central Command, a non-combat error occurred on the US-built pier off Gaza known as JLOTS, or the Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore capability, injuring three US military men, one of them is still in a critical state.
Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM deputy commander, didn’t disclose information Thursday other than stating they were non-combat-related injuries and that two of the military personnel have returned to duty, while the third is undergoing care at a nearby Israeli hospital.
A military official added that the third service member is in serious condition and was hurt onboard the USNS Benavidez, a U.S. Navy cargo ship. A U.S. official claimed it included a forklift accident.
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ABC News
