A video released on social media by Hamas militants shows a daring attack on an Israeli tank. The video, recorded by a helmet-mounted camera, captures the moment a fighter from Hamas’s Al-Qassam military wing emerges from an underground tunnel network near Al Zaytoun. The fighter places a shaped-charge armor-piercing grenade on the side hull of the tank and then fires an RPG at the Israeli tanks. The outcome of the attack is unknown.
The video has sparked debate about the effectiveness of the attack. Some argue that the hand-placed warhead was positioned in a way that would cause the blast to vent mostly into the open air, rather than penetrating the tank. Others speculate that the attack may have been aimed at disabling the tank’s side-turret mounted Trophy protection system. However, without further footage showing the post-strike status of the vehicles, it is difficult to determine the extent of the damage.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have reported 33 soldiers killed in action as of November 8. The IDF relies heavily on its armored corps, particularly its Merkava tanks, in ground operations. These tanks are well-protected with multi-layered armor and incorporate the Trophy system, which detects and shoots down incoming threats. Until the recent conflict in Gaza, no attacks had successfully penetrated the Trophy-equipped vehicles. However, Hamas anti-tank rocket teams attempt to attack from within 50 meters-range, which they believe is the system’s minimum-defeat distance.
In addition to the Merkava tanks, the IDF also uses heavily armored APCs, such as the Namer and Achzarit, which provide increased protection for the soldiers inside. The IDF’s new Eitan infantry fighting vehicle, based on a chassis by U.S.-company Oshkosh, is also being fielded and features an active-protection system and non-explosive reactive armor.
Overall, the conflict in Gaza has highlighted the challenges faced by Hamas in targeting Israel’s heavily armored tanks and APCs. The outcome of the attack shown in the video remains uncertain, but it underscores the ongoing battle between Israel and Hamas in the region.
