On the morning of October 7, 2023, armed detachments of the Palestinian radical Islamist group Hamas from the Gaza Strip launched a large-scale combined attack on Israel. Starting with a massive rocket attack on the territory of Israel (only in the first hour and a half, according to Palestinian statements, about 5,000 rockets were fired), Hamas units invaded Israel in several directions, including landing from the sea and from the air (from paragliders). Full operational and tactical surprise was achieved, which led to the defeat and capture of a number of Israeli army strongholds on the border with the Gaza Strip, and to the fact that Hamas militants were able to actually capture 13 nearby Israeli settlements and cities (including Sderot), accompanied by mass killings and hostage-taking.
Hit (presumably by dropping ammunition from a quadrocopter UAV) and captured by the Palestinians, the Merkava Mk 4 tank of the Israeli army near the border with the Gaza Strip, 07.10.2023 (c) Reuters
The head of the military wing of Hamas, Muhammad Deif, said: "The enemy desecrated Al-Aqsa and dared to attack the Prophet's Temple. Settlers are rampaging and robbing, the occupation regime has violated the freedoms and rights of prisoners. We are announcing the launch of Operation Al-Aqsa Storm. He also called on all Arab peoples to storm the "borders and dams of the occupiers." In turn, the Israeli armed forces announced the launch of the counter-terrorist operation "Iron Swords".
In the middle of the day on October 7, the Hamas group said that as a result of its attacks today, up to 50 Israeli soldiers were killed and 65 captured (it is not clear whether civilians are included here). Judging by the video and photographic materials, the Palestinians captured or destroyed several Merkava tanks, as well as armored personnel carriers.
(c) social networks
At one of the strongholds of the Israeli army, Hamas militants captured a Merkava Mk 4 tank, a heavy armored personnel carrier and at least three M113 armored personnel carriers (c) social networks
Captured by Hamas militants from Israel Merkava 4 tank (possibly in the latest modification Merkava 4 Barak) and Namer heavy armored personnel carrier (c) social networks
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