Fierce street battles erupt in Gaza as Hamas attacks IDF ‘at point blank range’

IDF video claims to show fighting with Hamas in school building

Hamas has boasted that it killed ten Israeli Defence Force (IDF) soldiers “at point blank range” during fierce street battles in Gaza.

Heavy fighting raged overnight and into Sunday across Gaza, with UN agencies claiming that there is no safe place to flee. Israel has yet to comment on the latest claims of IDF fatalities.

However, the AP reported that Israeli forces have continued to face heavy resistance in northern Gaza, where ground troops have been operating for over six weeks.

Residents said there was fierce fighting in the Gaza City neighborhood of Shijaiyah and the Jabaliya refugee camp.

The armed wing of the Palestinian terror group, Al-Qassam Brigades, said that intense fighting took place in the Al-Faluja area, northern Gaza Strip – close to the refugee camp.

In a statement released earlier today, Hamas added that they also threw “two hand grenades at a gathering of enemy soldiers under a building”.

It is thought that the incidents were two separate attacks.

Meanwhile, the Islamic terror group also released footage of their fighters blowing up at least three IDF tanks in the same area with rocket-propelled grenades (RPG).

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This comes as the IDF has claimed to have struck “over 250 terror targets” in Gaza in the last 24 hours.

In the south of Gaza, residents in Khan Younis reported that intense combat through the night had slowed the Israeli advance from the east.

Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy said “increasing numbers” of Hamas fighters were surrendering and handing over their weapons, calling it a sign of “collapsing” morale.

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The IDF also dismissed global outcry over footage showing scores of stripped Palestinians in Gaza, saying it was part of routine searches.

The Israeli army said it often strips people it deems could pose a threat to ensure they do not carry arms or explosives.

Hamas countered that the men were “unarmed civilians” and not militants of its armed wing.

According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, at least 17,700 Palestinians have been killed, and more than 48,780 wounded, since Israel launched its attacks on Gaza.

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