Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has released dramatic battleground footage of its troops battling Hamas operatives inside a school in Gaza.
Troops of Israel’s elite LOTAR Unit can be seen firing rounds at Hamas militants in Gaza City’s Shejaiya neighborhood.
According to the IDF, troops of the 188th Armored Brigade’s 74th Battalion, along with LOTAR soldiers, fought a Hamas cell as they searched the building.
The IDF said in a statement: “The terrorists tried to draw the forces into an ambush, with gunfire and explosives, and were eliminated by the troops of the LOTAR Unit and tank fire of the 74th Battalion.”
Israeli troops later searched the school and found a tunnel shaft inside one of the classrooms.
READ MORE: Terror fears soar as Israel warns of Hamas networks that could attack over Xmas
This comes amid Israel’s ramped up invasion of Gaza against Hamas, in which more than 16,000 people have been killed in Israeli attacks, according to local health authorities.
Israel has accused Hamas of using civilians as “human shields” as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu consistently pushes back against international calls for a ceasefire.
And the IDF uncovered Hamas “largest stockpile of weapons” in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday near a school and clinic.
Hundreds of missiles, launchers, long-range rockets, RPGs, drones, and explosive devices were seized.
The IDF said: “This is further proof of the cynical use that the terrorist organization Hamas makes of the residents of the Gaza Strip as a human shield.”
The Israeli military also said earlier this week that the IDF has struck “approximately 250 terror targets in the Gaza Strip” this week.
They said: “IDF troops are continuing to locate weapons, underground shafts, explosives and additional military infrastructure, and direct fighter jets to strike terror targets.”
Follow our social media accounts here on facebook.com/ExpressUSNews and @expressusnews
