Photos purport to show wagon with secret compartment used in special forces raid

Palestinian media publishes images purportedly showing a wagon used by Israeli special forces in a reported operation in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis this morning.

The photos show what appears from the outside to be a wagon, usually pulled by a mule or motorcycle, used by displaced Gazans to move their belongings. Inside, though, is a secret hollow section where Israeli troops or equipment were possibly hidden.

عاجل| مصادر محلية: قوة خاصة اسرائيلية تسللت بلباس مدني إلى موقع وسط خانيونس واغتالت شخصا واعتقلت زوجته وأطفاله..

صورة لحقيبة مموهة تركتها القوات الخاصة كانت تحتوي على أسلحة مموهة بأغراض نزوح pic.twitter.com/RpYbvgimxs

— فلسطين بوست (@PalpostN) May 19, 2025

There have been conflicting reports as to the goal of the operation. A Saudi outlet claimed troops were in the area as part of a hostage rescue operation, while Gazan media has reported special forces entered the city in a raid against a senior terror operative, who was killed during the operation.

Israel’s Channel 12 News reports that special forces who entered the city were able to make their way out without suffering any casualties.

The IDF has been mostly mum on the swirling reports, only issuing a statement saying “there is no change to the situational assessment,” which has been widely interpreted as a denial of the claimed hostage rescue attempt.