Palestinian resistance fighters from the Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, carried out a series of bold and coordinated attacks on invading Israeli military units in southern Gaza on Thursday, amid relentless Israeli assaults on the besieged enclave.

According to reports from Anadolu Agency, Al-Qassam fighters targeted two Israeli units advancing into eastern Rafah, inflicting casualties and forcing emergency evacuations. One of the operations involved the detonation of a powerful explosive device near the Omar ibn Abd al-Aziz Mosque in the al-Tannour neighborhood, striking a seven-soldier Israeli unit. The blast reportedly caused severe injuries, although Israeli authorities have remained silent on the incident.

In another strike, resistance fighters engaged a 12-soldier Israeli engineering unit near al-Fidai Junction. The unit, allegedly preparing to demolish a Palestinian home, was hit with a combination of anti-personnel and anti-armor shells. The Al-Qassam Brigades reported that Israeli helicopters were later seen evacuating the dead and wounded from the battlefield — a rare admission that underscores the scale of the resistance.

The group also described "intense close-quarters combat" with Israeli forces attempting to push into the al-Jeneina neighborhood of Rafah. Despite Israel’s overwhelming military advantage, Palestinian fighters continue to mount fierce resistance, defending their communities against occupation and displacement.

Israeli authorities, maintaining a strict policy of military censorship, have not confirmed these losses. As of the latest available figures, Israel has acknowledged 854 soldier deaths since October 7, 2023 — a number many believe underrepresents the true toll due to information suppression aimed at maintaining public morale. At least 5,847 Israeli troops have been wounded, with over 2,600 injured during ground operations in Gaza.

Meanwhile, Gaza continues to endure catastrophic human losses. Since the start of Israel’s assault, nearly 52,800 Palestinians — the majority of them women and children — have been killed, according to local health officials. Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble, and basic infrastructure has collapsed under the weight of sustained airstrikes and siege.

International legal bodies have taken unprecedented steps in response to the scale of the destruction. In November 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The charges include deliberately targeting civilians, using starvation as a weapon of war, and committing acts of collective punishment.

Additionally, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is currently hearing a genocide case against Israel, filed by South Africa. The court has already issued emergency orders requiring Israel to prevent genocidal acts and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza — orders Israel is widely accused of ignoring.

As the Israeli military intensifies its invasion of Rafah, Palestinian resistance remains defiant. Despite the devastation and loss, the people of Gaza continue to resist occupation, calling for justice, dignity, and liberation from decades of oppression. (ILKHA)