| 2014 Zikim attack | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of2014 Gaza war | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Israel | |||||||
| Strength | |||||||
 5frogmen | Unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 5 killed | None | ||||||
On the evening of 8 July 2014, fiveIzz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades militants, who were members of theNukhba forces, attempting to infiltrate Israel by swimming from theGaza Strip toZikim beach in southernIsrael. All five were killed by theIDF.
FiveHamasfrogmen of theal-Qassam Brigades attempted to infiltrateZikim via the northern beaches of Gaza. According to theIDF, all the infiltrators were killed.[1]
The attackers were members of theNukhba forces, Hamas's special forces unit.[2]
According to journalistAvi Issacharoff, the Zikim attack was another example, albeit unsuccessful, of Hamas attempting to conduct higher "quality" attacks duringOperation Protective Edge. The other example he cited was Hamas's new ability to fire rockets at the Israeli city ofHadera north ofTel Aviv. Hamas television stations and Arabic satellite stations celebrated the Zikim raid and rocket attacks.[1]
In December 2014, the IDF initiated an investigation following the leak of a film from an internal inquiry, which was subsequently circulated in Palestinian media.[3] The footage revealed a significantly longer duration of the battle than what was previously presented to the public by the IDF. The video contained omitted scenes, including those showing militants approaching anIDF Caterpillar D9 armoured bulldozer and placing an explosive on it, and hurling a grenade at a tank. The tank's armor resisted the blast and the crew remained unharmed.[4] These sections had reportedly been withheld by the IDF for security reasons. The IDF Spokesman's Office addressed the leak as a "severe incident" that would be investigated internally, rather than through media channels.[3]
Additionally, the footage showcased the audio communications between theIsraeli Navy’s Erez Regional Control Center and military units during their operation to kill the Hamas commandos. The response involved tanks, cannon fire from aDvora patrol boat ofSquadron 916 and ultimately support from theIsraeli Air Force.[3] According to IDF assessments, the commando unit was dispatched by senior Hamas militantAhmed Elghandour.[3] Taysir Mubasher, the former commander of Hamas's naval forces, was also claimed by the IDF to have been involved in the attack.[5]
Hamas launcheda similar attack against Zikim in 2023, during theOctober 7 attack on Israel.
Previously unseen footage shows Hamas terrorist running up to Israeli tank and throwing an explosive under it, tank armor withstands explosion and crew is unharmed. IDF: Leak is a serious incident that will be investigated and dealt with accordingly.
