- Hamas claims its fighters ‘lured a Zionist force’ into a tunnel in Jabalia camp
- Terrorists ‘killed, wounded and captured’ an unidentified number of IDF soldiers
- But the Israel Defense Forces have categorically rejected the claims as false.
A war of words has broken out between Hamas and the Israeli military over claims that the terrorist organization “killed, wounded and captured” an unidentified number of IDF soldiers in northern Gaza last night.
Qassam Brigades spokesman Abu Obeida says Hamas fighters “lured a Zionist force” into a tunnel in Jabalia camp.
The Israeli military has denied the claim, Reuters reports.
‘The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) clarifies that there is no incident in which a soldier has been kidnapped,’ the army said in a statement.
Hamas released a video Saturday night showing an injured man being dragged through a tunnel, but He did not provide any other evidence to support his claim.
The images also show what is allegedly military equipment assigned to an IDF soldier, including weapons, helmets, protective vests and ammunition.
A war of words has broken out between Hamas and the Israeli military over claims that the terrorist organization “killed, wounded and captured” an unidentified number of IDF soldiers in northern Gaza last night. Pictured: IDF soldiers in southern Israel on May 21.
The Israeli military denied the claim and issued a statement saying that “there is no incident in which a soldier was kidnapped.” In the image: An Israeli tank maneuvers near the Gaza Strip.
In a later video statement, Obeida said: ‘Our fighters lured a Zionist force into one of the tunnels in the Jabalia camp, trapping them in an ambush inside and at the entrance of this tunnel.
“They were able to collide with this force at point-blank range.”
He added that Hamas fighters then launched explosive devices at the soldiers “hitting them directly” and stating that they were all “killed, wounded and captured.”
Obeida’s comments came hours after prospects grew on Saturday for a resumption of mediated ceasefire talks in Gaza.
An official with knowledge of the matter said the decision had been made to resume talks next week after the head of the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad met with the head of the CIA and the prime minister of Qatar, Reuters reports.
The source, who did not want to be identified by name or nationality, said it had been decided that “negotiations will open next week based on new proposals led by the mediators, Egypt and Qatar, and with the active participation of the United States.” .
A Hamas official later denied Israeli media reports that talks would resume in Cairo on Tuesday, telling Reuters: “There is no date.”
After more than seven months of war in Gaza, mediators have struggled to achieve a breakthrough: Israel seeking the release of hostages held by Hamas and Hamas seeking an end to the war and the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israel.
Israel began its operation in response to attacks by Hamas-led militants in the country on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli counts.
MailOnline has contacted the IDF for comment.