IDF Reports New Casualties in Gaza as Fighting Set to Intensify

Latest Developments

• Deadly Ambush: An IDF soldier and an Israeli police officer were killed on April 25 during fighting in Gaza’s Shuja’iyya neighborhood. Cpt. Ido Voloch of the 401^st Armored Brigade’s 46^th Battalion and Sgt. Neta Yitzhak Kahane of the Border Police’s Yamas special forces unit died when an ambush inside a building went awry. Kahane was killed in an exchange of fire during the initial ambush, while Voloch was killed about an hour later when his tank — part of rescue forces dispatched to the scene — was struck by RPG fire. Two reservists were also moderately injured.
• Operations to Expand: The IDF is prepared to expand its operations in Gaza if hostage negotiations with Hamas fail to make progress in the next two weeks. The broader campaign would likely involve a significant call-up of IDF reservists to enable operations in new areas of the Palestinian enclave. As part of the escalation, Israel is reportedly considering the establishment of a new humanitarian zone for Gazan civilians in the recently evacuated Rafah area, located south of the IDF’s newly established Morag corridor and north of the IDF-controlled Philadelphi corridor along the border with Egypt.
• Multiple Targets Struck in Recent Fighting: Since the resumption of military operations in Gaza on March 18, the IDF has struck more than 1,800 targets, according to an April 26 statement. During this period, the IDF’s three active divisions in Gaza and Israeli Air Force have eliminated hundreds of terrorists, “including dozens of commanders, mid-level operatives, and government operatives.” In the past 48 hours alone, the Israeli Air Force struck 120 terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip.

FDD Expert Response

“In the immediate aftermath of the ceasefire’s collapse, Hamas exhibited relatively limited engagement against Israeli troops. However, the situation has since evolved, with Hamas increasingly conducting ambush operations against IDF units with some degree of success. Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other terrorist factions have also intensified their activities. These developments indicate a growing escalation toward the resumption of full-scale hostilities between Palestinian terrorist groups and Israeli forces.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst and Editor at FDD’s Long War Journal

“Hamas continues to demonstrate that it has no intention of ending its fight in Gaza or surrendering its weapons — a central demand of Israeli negotiators in hostage talks. Instead, the Iran-backed terrorist organization has doubled down, recruiting less experienced terror recruits in a bid to rebuild its strength. Israel’s planned establishment of a humanitarian zone between two IDF-controlled corridors likely aims to further separate Hamas from the civilian population it uses as cover, creating the space for increased Israeli military pressure.” — Aaron Goren, Research Analyst and Editor

FDD Background and Analysis

“‘Sons of Dogs’: Palestinian Authority President Lambasts Hamas, Calls for Release of Israeli Hostages,” FDD Flash Brief

“Hamas reportedly unable to pay fighters amid Israeli campaign against finances,” by Joe Truzman

“IDF suffers first casualties since start of new Gaza offensive,” by Seth J. Frantzman

“‘A Million Red Lines’: Hamas Rejects Israeli Ceasefire Proposal Requiring It to Disarm,” FDD Flash Brief