Reports indicate that the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, successfully disrupted Israeli tanks during the recent conflict. This revelation follows earlier reports detailing the group’s ability to penetrate Israeli military infrastructure during the October 7th offensive.
Hamas launched attacks on military bases and settlements near the Gaza Strip, resulting in casualties and the capture of Israelis. The group stated that these actions were in response to ongoing Israeli actions against the Palestinian people and holy sites, particularly the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
A recent report suggests that Al-Qassam fighters managed to disable Israeli tanks in the Gaza envelope area. This success is attributed to the Brigades’ acquisition of sensitive information regarding the operation of Merkava 4 tanks and the formation of a specialized tank unit.
Over several years, the Al-Qassam Brigades reportedly gathered intelligence on the Merkava 4 tank by monitoring the social media accounts of tens of thousands of Israeli soldiers. This information enabled them to develop strategies to target and disable these tanks.
According to reports, the fighters attempted to seize the tanks and transport them to the Gaza Strip for use against the Israeli military. While this larger objective was not fully realized, they managed to disable a number of tanks, rendering them unusable. This was achieved by exploiting knowledge of a ‘secret button’ within the tank that, when activated, temporarily disables the vehicle.
The Al-Qassam Brigades’ efforts extended beyond simply disabling tanks. The information they gathered facilitated the creation of a comprehensive training program for elite fighters, transforming them into ‘tank drivers’ within a dedicated ‘tank force.’ This unit reportedly utilized full-scale models of Merkava tanks and advanced simulation software to train its members on tank operation.
The extent of the Al-Qassam Brigades’ intelligence gathering and their ability to exploit vulnerabilities in Israeli military technology has raised serious concerns about security protocols and information management within the IDF. Investigations are reportedly underway to assess the full impact of these breaches and to implement measures to prevent future incidents.
