Hamas’ Daring Khan Younis Attack Exploited Known Tunnel, Caught Sleeping Soldiers Off Guard

An IDF investigation into Tuesday’s audacious Hamas attack on a Khan Younis outpost in southern Gaza has uncovered critical lapses, including a previously targeted tunnel that was only partially neutralized and a disabled observation camera that left soldiers vulnerable. The assault, detailed by reporter Doron Kadosh, saw around 15 Hamas terrorists storm a Kfir Brigade company outpost, catching troops asleep and sparking a chaotic 10-minute battle that killed six to eight terrorists and wounded four soldiers. The findings expose Hamas’s cunning use of IDF weaknesses and raise urgent questions about defensive readiness.

The assault began shortly after 9:00 AM when a platoon-sized Hamas force, split into three squads, emerged from a tunnel shaft 40-50 meters from the “Magen Oz” outpost in western Khan Younis, where IDF forces have been stationed for weeks, conducting raids. The terrorists shot out an observation camera, crippling surveillance and allowing them to breach the outpost undetected. The first squad, six to seven strong, surrounded the outpost’s earthen barrier and stormed a building where most soldiers were sleeping, led by the deputy company commander.

Woken abruptly, the soldiers leapt into action, engaging in close-quarters combat as the terrorists fired rifles and lobbed grenades. The IDF praised the troops’ swift shift “from zero to 100,” eliminating some attackers and forcing others to retreat. Meanwhile, a second squad fired RPGs at a decoy building, designed to mislead such attacks. A tank platoon commander responded, firing three shells to kill three terrorists, while another tank ran over an RPG-armed terrorist kneeling nearby, a moment captured in widely shared footage.

A third squad, positioned further back, fired mortars to disrupt IDF reinforcements, but tanks identified and killed a terrorist attempting to re-enter the tunnel. The remaining seven to eight attackers likely escaped underground, planting explosives along their retreat path to hinder pursuers. The breach itself lasted 10 minutes, but the entire incident, from detection to the last terrorist’s elimination, spanned three hours.

The terrorists were heavily armed, carrying Kalashnikov rifles, advanced RPGs, various grenades, explosives, and a stretcher, which the IDF believes was intended for kidnapping a soldier. The presence of such gear underscores Hamas’s aim to replicate its October 7, 2023, tactics, which saw 251 Israelis abducted. The IDF’s rapid response, activating tanks, a combat helicopter, and drones within minutes, prevented a catastrophe, though one Nachshon Battalion soldier was seriously injured and three others lightly wounded.

The IDF probe revealed a troubling oversight: two months ago, forces partially neutralized a nearby tunnel shaft but failed to destroy the entire underground network. Hamas exploited this, digging a new shaft to launch the attack, showcasing its ability to restore local tunnel routes despite IDF efforts. The disabled camera further hampered early detection, forcing soldiers to react only after the breach began. The outpost’s static position, unchanged for weeks, likely allowed Hamas to study its routines, echoing Southern Command’s broader critique of “frozen” deployments enabling such attacks.

The Khan Younis assault, one of the boldest since the Gaza war escalated, shows Hamas’s growing audacity and the IDF’s struggle to secure its outposts. As Israel pushes forward with its Gaza City operation, the probe’s findings demand urgent action to shore up defenses against Hamas’s tunnel-based tactics, or risk more deadly surprises.