Israeli media claims Hamas personnel seized army engineering equipment in southern Gaza

Israel’s Channel 14 reported that Palestinians seized drilling pipes and other engineering equipment used by the Israeli military for tunnel-detection operations in southern Gaza, in what it said was the second such occurrence in about a week.

According to the Israeli channel, the latest incident occurred on Sunday near the so-called “Yellow Line,” where Israeli forces claimed to have observed armed men approaching engineering equipment being used in an area under Israeli military control. The men reportedly took some of the equipment before returning to another part of the Gaza Strip.

Channel 14 cited Israeli security assessments suggesting that the drilling pipes could potentially be repurposed for manufacturing or preparing explosive devices for use against Israeli forces. The report did not provide evidence that the equipment had already been used for that purpose.

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The Israeli military has been conducting extensive excavation and drilling operations near the Yellow Line as part of efforts to locate underground tunnels and prevent their extension into areas where Israeli forces are deployed. According to Israeli reports, the operation involves dozens of drilling machines positioned at relatively short intervals.

Channel 14 said a similar incident occurred approximately a week earlier, when Israeli troops reportedly observed armed men entering an area of military activity and taking engineering equipment.

According to the channel’s account, soldiers requested authorisation to open fire during that episode, but senior commanders declined to approve the request.

The report said the decision prompted criticism among some Israeli troops over rules governing the use of force in Gaza, particularly restrictions on opening fire unless an immediate threat to soldiers is identified.

Although the original report attributed the seizure to armed Palestinians, it was not independently established that those involved were members of Hamas. 

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