New Details: Deadly Gaza Ambush Claims Five IDF Lives, Injures 14 

The incident took place during a two-brigade operation conducted by the IDF in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza Strip, a town opposite Sderot repeatedly captured during the war. On Saturday night, a new offensive began, involving the Northern Brigade and Reserve Brigade 646, aimed at attacking and clearing the area of terrorists after Beit Hanoun was besieged and surrounded.

Shortly after 22:00 last night, a force from Battalion 97, "Netzach Yehuda," the IDF’s first Haredi battalion, was crossing a route on foot as part of the offensive.

Two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) placed along the route were detonated consecutively on the Netzach Yehuda foot patrol. The IDF notes that the area had been significantly targeted by airstrikes in recent weeks as part of air "softening" operations ahead of the mission. Nevertheless, the two IEDs exploded precisely as the force passed through. Initial assessments suggest remote activation as part of an ambush.

During the evacuation of casualties from the IED site, terrorists opened fire from an ambush on the rescue forces, causing additional casualties and complicating the prolonged evacuation process. Additional rescue forces were dispatched to extract all casualties.

This pattern of an ambush involving gunfire following IED detonation has occurred several times in recent weeks, as seen in previous incidents where Hamas terrorists planted explosives, including the incident where Sergeant Asaf Zamir, of blessed memory, was killed, and the IED attack on an armored vehicle in Khan Younis, where seven combat engineers fell.

In total, five soldiers were killed in the incident, all from the Netzach Yehuda Battalion. Fourteen soldiers were injured: two critically, six moderately, and six lightly. All wounded were evacuated for medical treatment at a hospital.

Military analyst Doron Kadosh made three observations about the Beit Hanoun Disaster:

According to all senior commanders operating in Gaza, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) are currently the number one threat to IDF forces in the Strip. Based on data reported this morning, over 70% of soldiers killed during the maneuvering phase in Gaza in recent months were victims of IED attacks—27 out of 38 fallen soldiers since the resumption of combat operations in March. The explosives are primarily used in two main scenarios: roadside ambushes (19 casualties) and booby-trapped buildings (6 casualties).

2. Hamas Fighters Are Becoming More Daring:

In recent weeks, the IDF has observed increased boldness among Hamas operatives. Unlike in previous stages of the war, they are no longer just fleeing or planting IEDs in advance and detonating them remotely. Instead, they emerge from tunnels and rubble, engage in direct combat, and often set ambushes and fire from them, even knowing this increases their chances of being exposed and eliminated. In several recent deadly encounters, terrorists did not flee the scene but instead remained and engaged IDF rescue teams, attempting to maximize casualties. Filming these attacks is also a key goal for Hamas, with efforts to capture high-quality footage from multiple angles to be used in propaganda.

3. The Tactical Challenge of Beit Hanoun:

Beit Hanoun, a Gazan town located less than 3 kilometers from the Israeli city of Sderot, has been conquered by the IDF numerous times. Dozens of operations have taken place there in the past two years. Yet two things have remained consistent: every time the IDF withdrew, Hamas fighters returned; and even during IDF operations, Hamas has steadily reinforced the area, most likely via underground tunnels. Despite surface-level clearing operations, Hamas has been able to replenish forces and deploy new units underground, allowing it to maintain Beit Hanoun as a persistent, active combat zone over an extended period.