Seven Palestinians, one Israeli soldier, killed in Gaza

AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): After undercover Israeli soldiers infiltrated into the Gaza Strip, on Sunday at night, and assassinated two senior leaders of the Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, the army initiated a series of air strikes, the army fired missiles and shells to secure the retreat of its undercover soldiers, killing five other Palestinians. Hamas fighters exchanged fire with the soldiers killing one of them, Israeli sources have confirmed.

The undercover soldiers were driving a Volkswagen car, and drove towards the home of Noureddin Baraka, in Bani Suheila area in Khan Younis, before stopping near the property, the al-Quds News Agency has confirmed.

Fighters of the Al-Qassam Brigades then noticed the car and stopped it near a kindergarten in Abasan al-Kabeera town, and asked the passengers to step out of the vehicle and show their ID cards.

It added that the undercover soldiers, who were in the backseat of the car, then opened fire at the fighters, after realizing their cover-up has been exposed.

Al-Quds also stated that some of the undercover soldiers were wearing veils, pretending to be women.

The senior fighter, Noureddin Baraka, was instantly killed in the initial shooting, while other fighters called for help, before chasing the car that carried the undercover forces.

The Israeli army, stationed across the perimeter fence, started firing shells at cars and Palestinians who chased the undercover officers’ vehicle, before it crashed against a wall, and then headed toward the perimeter fence.

So far, the Israeli soldiers who was killed in the Gaza invasion, has only been identified as (Lt. Col. M.). The army is still keeping other information classified, but his family has officially been notified.

The Al-Qassam Brigades said the undercover soldiers who infiltrated into an area, east of the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, assassinated one of its senior leaders, identified as Noureddin Mohammad Salama Baraka, 37.

It said that the undercover soldiers used a civilian car to drive three kilometers into the area of Abu Shanab Mosque, east of Khan Younis, and assassinated Baraka.

The group added that its fighters then chased the undercover forces after they assassinated Baraka, exchanged fire with them,

Al-Qassam stated that the Israeli Air Force then started firing missiles, killing five Palestinians, and wounding at least seven.

The army also fired several shells into lands, east of Khuza’a town, east of Khan Younis, in addition to firing many flares.

In a statement, Al-Qassam said that the “resistance in Gaza will continue to defend the Palestinian people,” and vowed that “the enemy will pay a heavy price for its crime.”

Hamas spokesperson Fawzi Barhoum said in a written statement that “what the resistance is doing in Gaza is honorable and brave, proving its readiness to perform its national duties, and to defend the people.”

He also said that “the cowardice enemy will pay a heavy price for its crime.”

Israeli sources have confirmed that one of its “Special Forces” officers was killed in an exchange of fire, which broke out during the offensive, and that another officer was injured.”

The Palestinians who were killed in the Israeli offensive have been identified as:

Noureddin Mohammad Salama Baraka, 37.
Mohammad Majed Mousa al-Qarra, 23.
Khaled Mohammad Ali Qweider, 29.
Mustafa Hasan Mohammad Abu Odah, 21.
Mahmoud Atallah Misbih, 25.
Ala’eddin Fawzi Mohammad Fseifis, 24.
Omar Naji Musallam Abu Khater, 21.

It is worth mentioning that al-Qarra just got married a few days ago. Both Baraka and al-Qarra are senior leaders of the al-Qassam Brigades.

Following this serious Israeli military escalation, the Israeli army asked the Israeli colonialist settlers living close to the border with Gaza to remain indoors, and closed the Zikim road.

Israeli media source said that, after the army assassinated the fighters, Al-Qassam fired at least ten shells into Israel area, and added that the Iron Done system “intercepted two of them.”

Furthermore, the army issued a statement confirming that no soldiers were abducted during the offensive into Gaza, and declared high alter along the border area.

In addition, the Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad, issued a statement declaring readiness for any possible escalation.

So far, the name of the Israeli officer who was killed in the invasion into Khan Younis remains unpublished by Israel.

The army only confirmed his death, and that another soldier was injured, underwent a surgery and is currently in “moderate and stable condition,” at Intensive Care Unit, in Soroka Hospital.


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