Missing Israeli Soldiers Amid Escalating Gaza Clashes
Four Israeli soldiers went missing in heavy fighting in Gaza’s Al-Zeitun neighborhood as Palestinian militants executed ambushes against Israeli forces; the Israeli military has invoked the controversial Hannibal Directive in response, reports 24brussels.
The clashes are among the fiercest since October 7, 2023, with reports indicating that Palestinian fighters targeted a unit of Israel’s Nahal Brigade, attempting to capture additional soldiers. Despite extensive search operations, no official information regarding the missing soldiers has been released by the Israeli military.
As battles escalated into the night in Al-Zeitun, the Hannibal Directive was activated, which permits the use of lethal force to prevent the capture of Israeli soldiers. Israeli reports confirm that one soldier has been killed and 11 others injured, but the fate of the missing soldiers remains uncertain.
Earlier statements from Abu Obeida, spokesperson for the Al-Qassam Brigades, indicated that the group had lost contact with Edan Alexander, a U.S.-Israeli soldier believed to be held captive in Gaza. This situation has rekindled speculation about the use of the Hannibal Directive in the current conflict.
Israeli media detailed three significant incidents targeting Israeli forces in Gaza on Friday, necessitating substantial rescue operations involving helicopters. These confrontations occurred in Al-Zeitun, the Sabra neighborhood of southern Gaza City, and Khan Younis, where Palestinian resistance groups reportedly caused numerous casualties among Israeli troops.
Initially drafted in 1986 in response to the capture of Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah, the Hannibal Directive has drawn considerable criticism due to its implications, as it allows for potentially lethal measures against Israeli personnel to prevent them from being taken hostage. Investigations during the Al-Aqsa Flood operation revealed that Israeli forces had, in some instances, killed civilians under this directive.
Since the onset of military operations in October 2023, estimates suggest at least 63,025 Palestinians have been killed and another 159,490 injured, highlighting the toll of the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
