The Israel Defense Forces said on Wednesday that all six of the gunmen identified during a clash in western Rafah on Tuesday were killed during the exchange of fire.
In a statement, the military said troops from the 7th Armored Brigade had eliminated the six suspects. Searches were carried out in the area and various weapons were found on their bodies.
The incident unfolded on the Israeli-controlled side of the Yellow Line in the southern Gaza Strip after troops identified six armed individuals near their positions. Tanks moved in and opened fire, prompting the gunmen to return fire and triggering a firefight along with Israeli airstrikes.
In the immediate aftermath of the clash, the IDF confirmed that it had killed at least two of the armed suspects and said it was searching the area for the remaining gunmen.
The military reiterated its comments from Tuesday in the Wednesday statement, saying that the incident constituted a “serious violation” of the October ceasefire agreement, and said it would continue to act against any of the attempts by terror groups in Gaza to attack Israeli forces or civilians.
Get The Times of Israel’s Daily Edition
by email and never miss our top stories
By signing up, you agree to the terms
Since October 10, a fragile US-sponsored truce in Gaza has largely halted the fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas, but both sides have alleged frequent ceasefire violations.
Three IDF soldiers have been killed during the same period.
IDF soldiers in the Harel Brigade operate near the Yellow Line in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, in an image published on November 5, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces)
The IDF published footage of Tuesday’s clash, in which gunmen could be seen firing at IDF tanks, with troops returning fire.
The military also published photos of the weapons that were found on the suspects’ bodies after the clash.
The flare-up in violence came even as Israel and other countries prepared for the onset of the Gaza ceasefire’s second phase, which the US publicly launched on Wednesday.
Phase two is meant to establish longer-term governance and security frameworks for the enclave. But Israel is insisting that Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, the final deceased hostage held in Gaza, be returned before the deal advances, and on Tuesday reiterated that it rejects claims by the Gaza terror groups that they can’t locate his body.
Israel is “working every day, all day and night,” to return Gvili’s body to Israel, a senior government official said on Tuesday.
“The efforts are being made through the negotiating team, and contacts with the mediators, also through connections with the Americans, as well as intelligence actions,” the official said.
“There are those in the Islamic Jihad who know where Ran Gvili is,” the official continued, referring to the last slain hostage held in Gaza.
“We are not going to give up on this. Information we have given to the mediators multiple times, including recently, must be translated into effective actions to bring him back,” said the official. “That message has been communicated.”
Police officer Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, confirmed on January 31, 2024, to have been killed by invading Hamas-led terrorists on October 7, 2023, with his body abducted to Gaza. (Israel Police)
Last week, multiple sources had told The Times of Israel that US President Donald Trump was aiming to begin the second phase of the ceasefire, even as Gvili remains held in Gaza. Trump is set to announce the Board of Peace, which will supervise Gaza’s on-the-ground government.
Trump’s move comes as other key pieces of the ceasefire have yet to occur, such as Hamas’s disarmament, which the terror group has rejected, and the opening of the Rafah Border Crossing between Gaza and Egypt.
Is accurate Israel coverage important to you?
If so, we have a request.
Every day during the past two years of war and rising global anti-Zionism and antisemitism, our journalists kept you abreast of the most important developments that merit your attention. Millions of people rely on ToI for fact-based coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
We care about Israel – and we know you do too. So we have an ask for this new year of 2026: express your values by joining The Times of Israel Community, an exclusive group for readers like you who appreciate and financially support our work.
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this
You appreciate our journalism
You clearly find our careful reporting valuable, in a time when facts are often distorted and news coverage often lacks context.
Your support is essential to continue our work. We want to continue delivering the professional journalism you value, even as the demands on our newsroom have grown dramatically since October 7.
So today, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. For as little as $6 a month you’ll become our partners while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you,
David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel