Hamas Attacks Israeli Positions Amid Ceasefire Announcement, IDF Concerned About Kidnapping Attempts

Latest Developments

• Attempted Kidnapping in Gaza: Three Hamas terrorists attempted to raid an IDF outpost in southern Gaza on October 9, hours after a ceasefire agreement was announced between Israel and the Iran-backed terrorist organization. IDF troops initially fired warning shots at the gunmen as they approached an army encampment in the Khan Younis area before killing the attackers. No IDF troops were injured during the incident.  
• Attempt on Previous Day: One day earlier, another terrorist cell attempted to raid an IDF post on the outskirts of Gaza City. Five Hamas gunmen targeted a position held by the Sayeret Golani reconnaissance unit near the Netzarim Corridor. The troops called in airstrikes against the cell, killing three of the terrorists, but two managed to flee. Similar to the later incident, no IDF soldiers were injured during the unsuccessful attack. 
• IDF Raises Alert Levels as Ceasefire Implementation Grows Imminent: As the agreed-upon ceasefire grows closer to taking effect, the IDF stated that troops stationed in Gaza are on high alert for possible Hamas attacks and abductions. The military ordered a reduction in “non-essential” activity, aiming to mitigate the risk of Hamas targeting soldiers during the transitional period into the ceasefire’s implementation. Separately, the IDF carried out several precision strikes on high-value targets throughout Gaza in the past few days, attempting to close “intelligence loops” ahead of the IDF’s withdrawal to the first redeployment line for the release of hostages. 

FDD Expert Response

“It should surprise no one that Hamas may be attempting a last-ditch effort to earn a battlefield victory by either exacting additional IDF casualties or abducting a soldier. Israel learned a valuable lesson following Hamas’s abduction of IDF soldier Hadar Goldin during a ceasefire period in the 2014 war. Furthermore, renewed rocket fire toward Israeli communities remains a distinct possibility, as Hamas and its allies might seek to prove that — despite the damage inflicted by the IDF — they continue to have operational capacity to strike the Jewish state.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst and Editor at FDD’s Long War Journal

“This is not the first time Hamas has tried to abduct Israeli soldiers during ceasefire negotiations. They attempted the same tactic in July to shape the narrative in their favor and have the last word. This serves as a testament that, despite the positive news that the hostages will return home, allowing Hamas to operate as it did before October 7, 2023, would mean that it will remain a threat to Israel in the future. That is why Hamas must be disarmed and prevented from ruling the Gaza Strip.” — Ahmad Sharawi, Research Analyst

FDD Background and Analysis

“Israel and Hamas Agree to First Phase of Trump’s Peace Plan for Gaza,” FDD Flash Brief

“Hamasniks in fox holes,” by Clifford D. May

“How Israel Can Defend Itself in the Future,” by Jonathan Schanzer

“Releasing All Hostages at Once Essential to Success of U.S. Peace Plan,” by Aaron Goren