This is the moment the Israeli army bombed a team of Hamas divers trying to infiltrate Israel after frogmen entered the sea from a Gaza tunnel.
The IDF said at least two Hamas terrorists attempted to enter Israel by sea at Zikim – just north of the Gaza Strip – after entering a nearby Gaza beach through a tunnel.
Images from the Israeli army show a coupe of naval ships searching for the target. Large explosions can then be seen in the water, with a small part of the vessel sticking out of the water.
The two Hamas fighters were killed in an attack by fighter jets and Israeli Navy soldiers, who also destroyed a weapons cache “used by the terrorists.” The IDF has not provided specific details on how the attempted sea infiltration took place.
Shortly after the IDF issued an update, Hamas’ military wing posted a photo on Telegram of two men in special diving gear armed with assault rifles.
Images from the Israeli army show a coupe of naval ships searching for the target. Large explosions can then be seen in the water
A small part of the naval vessel sticks out of the water with a target over it
An alarm could be heard during the incident, used to warn of a suspected infiltration in the border communities of Zikim and Karmia, which have largely been evacuated since the October 7 attack, The Times of Israel reported.
Later, IDF spokesman Admiral Daniel Hagari said naval forces were conducting a search for other potential terrorists in the area.
Hagari said naval forces, including naval commandos, working across the coast from Gaza City saw the Hamas cell entering the ocean from a tunnel.
He said naval forces shot at the divers, killing them, “and are currently working to ensure that no members of the cell are left in the sea.”
In a statement, Hamas claimed responsibility for the attempted attack, saying its members had rebelled against Israeli forces after apparently succeeding in crossing into Israel.