- Hamas claims its fighters lured ‘a Zionist force’ into a tunnel into Jabalia camp
- Terrorists ‘killed, injured and captured’ an unknown number of IDF soldiers
- But the Israel Defense Force has categorically rejected the claims as untrue
A war of words has broken out between Hamas and the Israeli army over claims that the terrorist organization “killed, wounded and captured” an unknown number of IDF soldiers in northern Gaza last night.
Qassam Brigades spokesman Abu Obeida says Hamas fighters lured “a Zionist force” into a tunnel into the Jabalia camp.
The Israeli military has denied the claim, Reuters reports.
“The IDF (Israeli Armed Forces) makes it clear that there is no incident involving the abduction of a soldier,” the army said in a statement.
Hamas released a video late Saturday showing an injured man being dragged through a tunnel, but that is not the case has provided no other evidence to support his claim.
The footage also shows what appears to be 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 army over claims that the terrorist organization “killed, wounded and captured” an unknown 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 there was “no incident of any soldier being kidnapped.” In the photo: an Israeli tank maneuvers close to the Gaza Strip
In a subsequent video statement, Obeida said: “Our fighters lured a Zionist force into one of the tunnels in the Jabalia camp and held them captive in an ambush inside and at the entrance of this tunnel.
“They were able to clash with this force at close range.”
He added that Hamas fighters then fired explosives at the soldiers, “hitting them directly” and claiming that they were all “killed, wounded and captured.”
Obeida’s comments came hours after prospects for a resumption of mediated ceasefire negotiations in Gaza increased on Saturday.
An official with knowledge of the matter said a decision had been made to resume talks next week after the head of Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad met with the head of the CIA and Qatar’s prime minister, Reuters reported.
The source, who declined to be identified by name or nationality, said it had been decided that “in the coming week, negotiations will begin on the basis of new proposals led by the mediators, Egypt and Qatar and with active involvement of the US.”
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, with Israel demanding the release of hostages held by Hamas, and Hamas demanding an end to the war and the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israel .
Israel launched its operation in response to Hamas-led militants who attacked the country on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and capturing more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures.
MailOnline has contacted the IDF for comment.