A deadly Hamas ambush in the Beit Hanoun area of northern Gaza on Monday targeted an IDF convoy, injuring multiple soldiers, including a senior officer, in what Israeli officials described as a carefully coordinated and multi-layered attack.

According to initial reports, the ambush began when an explosive device struck an armored IDF vehicle. Within moments, three additional explosions detonated along the route — targeting both the initial convoy and responding rescue forces. The coordinated nature of the attack suggested Hamas intended to inflict mass casualties, with estimates indicating the assault was designed to harm at least 15 to 16 soldiers.

Following the blasts, IDF helicopters were deployed under heavy fire to evacuate the wounded. Some of the injured were flown to Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv. Residents in the area reported widespread power outages and heavy use of fireworks — a tactic often used by Hamas to disrupt aerial surveillance and conceal movement.

In a separate but likely related incident, an anti-tank missile struck an IDF vehicle carrying ammunition, further wounding several soldiers.

Israeli airstrikes and helicopter activity continued in the area throughout the night as the military worked to extract its forces under fire.

The IDF has not yet released an official casualty count, but reports said at least five IDF soldiers were killed and upwards of a dozen more wounded, some critically.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)