Another video from the Gaza Strip has gone viral on the internet which showed a Hamas guerrilla sniping an Israeli Defence Force (IDF) soldier on guard duty. The viral video, released by the Hamas propaganda wing, captured the moment the fallen IDF soldier's comrade running away in search of cover instead of trying to help his colleague.
The IDF soldier was shot from behind by the sniper belonging to the Qassam Brigades of the Islamic outfit that is at war with Israel in Gaza. The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades (often shortened to Al-Qassam Brigades or Qassam Brigades) are the military wing of Hamas.
CLICK TO WATCH THE VIDEO (WARNING: WAR VISUALS)
The two soldiers were protecting an IDF Caterpillar D9 bulldozer when the sniper found the mark with a vest-piercing bullet. The soldier fell on his front after being struck. THE WEEK couldn't independently verify the authenticity of the undated video. It was also unknown where in Gaza was the video shot. Hamas also blurred the face of its fighter who was seen eliminating the enemy soldier through the windows of a building.
Over 67,000 to 69,100 people have been reported killed in the Gaza Strip since the start of the war while the number of Israeli soldiers killed since the beginning of the ground operations in the Gaza Strip (which began on October 27, 2023) is reportedly 466.
Gaza peace talks
Hamas officials were in Egypt on Monday for talks with Israel that the U.S. hopes will bring a halt to the war in Gaza and a release of hostages despite contentious issues like disarmament of the Palestinian militant group under Donald Trump's plan.
A Palestinian official close to the talks was sceptical about the prospects of a breakthrough given deep mutual mistrust, saying Hamas and other Palestinian factions worried that Israel might ditch negotiations once it recovered the hostages. The Israeli delegation includes officials from spy agencies Mossad and Shin Bet, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's foreign policy adviser Ophir Falk and hostages coordinator Gal Hirsch. However, Israel's chief negotiator, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, was only expected to join later this week, pending developments in the negotiations, according to three Israeli officials.