The devastated neighbourhood of Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza, which has been reduced to ruins by Israeli airstrikes, is the backdrop for a chilling drone attack captured on video. The footage, shot by a drone operated by Hamas, shows the device scanning the area before dropping a black bomb with a bright orange tail. The bomb lands just feet away from a group of resting Israeli soldiers, causing them to scatter and run through the smoke-filled wasteland. Some soldiers remain on the ground, their fate uncertain.
The authenticity of the footage, released on social media by Hamas’ military wing, could not be independently verified. However, it suggests that the terrorist group has adopted tactics used in the Ukraine war, where modified commercial drones are routinely employed to attack the enemy on the frontlines.
The use of drones in this manner was first demonstrated by Hamas on October 7, when they launched a surprise attack on Israel, using adapted quadcopter drones to disable surveillance towers along the border fence with Gaza. Russia also employed commercial drones carrying explosives at the beginning of its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, prompting Ukraine to quickly develop its own drones for reconnaissance and striking enemy soldiers.
Footage from the conflict in Ukraine has shown how Russian troops sheltering in trenches have been caught off guard by small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that are difficult to detect until they are directly overhead. The recent video from Gaza suggests that Hamas may have learned from these tactics, although experts note that the scale of drone use in the Middle East is not comparable to that in Ukraine.
Analysts have expressed surprise at Hamas’ ability to modify off-the-shelf drones for their operations. Liran Antebi, a drone technology expert at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, remarked on the “unexpected and complex use of Hamas drones,” highlighting their potential effectiveness despite their technological simplicity.
The Israeli military has confirmed 15 soldiers killed in battles in northern Gaza since Tuesday, but did not mention the alleged drone attack. General Vincent Desportes, a professor of strategy, explained the challenges of a ground invasion in an interview, suggesting that Hamas aims to cause mass casualties to shock the public and force a retreat.
As the conflict continues, it is clear that drones are playing an increasingly significant role in modern warfare. The use of these unmanned devices presents new challenges for militaries around the world, as they must find ways to defend against and adapt to this evolving threat.
