By Palestine Chronicle Staff 
This is not the first time that Hamas has carried out attacks on the Zikim beach in southern Ashkelon, clashing with the Israeli army.
Hamas fighters, belonging to the group’s ‘human frogs’ unit, managed to attack a southern Israeli military base on Wednesday, Israeli media reported.
Though the Al-Qassam movement didn’t elaborate on the operation, several Israeli media sources confirmed that the attack had taken place, citing Israeli military sources.
News reports indicate that the fighters clashed with Israeli troops, before returning to the sea unarmed.
🚨🚨 عملية إنزال خلف الخطوط
للضفادع البشرية للـ ـقسام على ساحل زيكيم جنوب عسقلان واشتباكات تدور والحدث لم ينتهي.🔴 الاقتحام تم من مسلحين اثنين عبر البحر. pic.twitter.com/VZUJIZcxLL
— قـٰٓـا ســِم (@kassim7th) March 13, 2024
Israel’s Channel 12, however, reported that the Israeli army fired at two divers who attempted to infiltrate into Israeli maritime territory and managed to repel them.
“Earlier today (Wednesday), two Hamas members wearing diving gear were spotted and breached security instructions in the maritime area in the northern Gaza Strip,” the channel reported.
According to the same channel, “the suspects returned to the permitted area” after firing by the Israeli army.
This is not the first time that Hamas has carried out attacks on the Zikim beach in southern Ashkelon, clashing with the Israeli army, but the latest such reported operation took place months ago, on Oct. 24, 2023.
Currently on trial before the International Court of Justice for genocide against Palestinians, Israel has been waging a devastating war on Gaza since October 7.
CHANNEL 23: The Israeli army opened fire at two divers who tried to infiltrate near the northern shores of Gaza, fearing that they would reach the Zikim area. The divers were not harmed, according to the channel.
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— The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) March 13, 2024
According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, 31,272 Palestinians have been killed, and 73,244 wounded in Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza starting on October 7.
Moreover, at least 7,000 people are unaccounted for, presumed dead under the rubble of their homes throughout the Strip.
Israel says that 1,200 soldiers and civilians were killed during the Al-Aqsa Flood Operation on October 7. Israeli media published reports suggesting that many Israelis were killed on that day by ‘friendly fire.’
(Anadolu, PC)
