Hamas says Qassam fighters killed more Israeli soldiers in Gaza

The military wing of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says it has killed a number of Israeli soldiers in the besieged Gaza Strip.

The Qassam Brigades announced on Monday that one of its fighters killed an Israeli trooper east of the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza. Three Israeli soldiers were also killed in the Qarara area, north of Khan Younis. The soldiers were targeted with an anti-personnel missile.

Qassam fighters also attacked Israeli vehicles east of the Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City.

Meanwhile, an analysis of satellite imagery shows the Israeli military failed to make any new progress closing in on the city of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip between December 24 and 30. Satellite images taken on December 30 showed fierce battles in the Katiba area, Gamal Abdel Nasser Street, and west of the Abu Hamid roundabout.

Comparison of the images with those taken on December 24 shows Israeli vehicles were trying to make progress, but to no avail, and continued to remain in their position.

Qassam fighters also targeted Tel Aviv and its suburbs.

Israel plans to withdraw thousands of troops from Gaza

Weeks after Israel ignited its bloody war machine in Gaza, its military announced it would withdraw some troops from the besieged territory.

The withdrawal includes five brigades which reportedly consist of a considerably large number of soldiers.

The regime says nearly 170 of its soldiers have been killed and 900 injured since the launch of the ground operation in Gaza in early October.

Palestinians say fatalities among the invading troops are much higher and that the regime is underreporting the figures.

MG