IDF says four gunmen killed after emerging from Rafah tunnel, firing on troops

IDF troops killed four Palestinian gunmen who emerged from a tunnel and attacked soldiers in southern Gaza’s Rafah a short while ago, the military says.

According to the IDF, during mop-up operations in eastern Rafah, four terror operatives were identified emerging from a tunnel and opening fire on troops of the 7th Armored Brigade.

The IDF says the soldiers returned fire, “and eliminated the four terrorists.” There are no reports of Israeli casualties in the incident.

The IDF says the attack is a “blatant violation of the ceasefire” between Israel and Hamas, and it views the incident “gravely.”

Dozens of Hamas operatives were believed to be trapped underground in the eastern Rafah area, on the Israeli side of the ceasefire line. The IDF has reported killing or capturing some 40 of them in recent months.

The IDF says it is continuing to operate in the area “to locate and eliminate all remaining terrorists in the tunnel.”