- Hamas claims its fighters ‘lured a Zionist force’ into a tunnel in Jabalia camp
- Terrorists ‘killed, wounded and captured’ unidentified number of IDF soldiers
- But the Israel Defence Force has categorically dismissed the claims as untrue
A war of words has broken out between Hamas and the Israeli military over claims the terrorist organisation ‘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 (Israeli Defence Forces) clarifies that there is no incident in which a soldier was abducted,’ the military said in a statement.
Hamas released a video late on Saturday showing a wounded man being dragged through a tunnel, but it did not provide any other evidence to substantiate its claim.
The footage also shows what it purports to be military equipment assigned to an IDF soldier, including guns, helmets, protection vests and ammunition.
A war of words has broken out between Hamas and the Israeli military over claims the terrorist organisation ‘killed, wounded and captured’ an unidentified number of IDF soldiers in northern Gaza last night. Pictured: IDF soldiers in southern Israel on 21 May
The Israeli military denied the claim, issuing a statement saying ‘there is no incident in which a soldier was abducted’. Pictured: An Israeli tank manouevres 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, trapping them in an ambush inside and at the entrance of this tunnel.
‘They were able to clash with this force at point-blank range.’
He added that Hamas fighters then set off explosive devices at the soldiers ‘hitting them directly’ and claiming all were ‘killed, wounded and captured’.
The comments by Obeida came hours after prospects for a resumption of mediated Gaza ceasefire talks grew on Saturday.
An official with knowledge of the matter said a decision had been taken to resume the talks next week after the chief of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency met the head of the CIA and the prime minister of Qatar, Reuters reports.
The source, who declined to be identified by name or nationality, said it had been decided that ‘in the coming week negotiations will open based on new proposals led by the mediators, Egypt and Qatar and with active U.S. involvement.’
A Hamas official later denied Israeli media reports the talks would resume in Cairo on Tuesday, telling Reuters: ‘There is no date.’
After more than seven months of war in Gaza, the mediators have struggled to secure a breakthrough, with Israel seeking the release of hostages held by Hamas and Hamas seeking an end to the war and a release of Palestinian prisoners in Israel.
Israel began its operation in response to Hamas-led militants attacking the country on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and seizing more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
MailOnline has reached out to the IDF for comment.