GAZA CITY, Palestine

The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, said Friday that they had sniped an Israeli soldier and targeted advancing military vehicles in northern Gaza, an area impacted by Israeli military actions for 21 days.

In a statement, the brigades said, "Our fighters successfully sniped a Zionist soldier in the Al-Razan area, north of Jabalia camp."

They also claimed to have targeted two Israeli troop carriers with Yasin 105 and tandem shells, along with a military bulldozer using an explosive device near the Imad Aqel Mosque east of Jabalia, according to a second statement.

In a third announcement, they added, “We targeted a Zionist military vehicle with an explosive device on Al-Qasasib Street in the Jabalia camp.”

Earlier on Friday, the Israeli military confirmed the deaths of three soldiers during clashes in northern Gaza.

This comes as Israel’s intensified campaign in northern Gaza escalates, which began on Oct. 5 with unprecedented airstrikes on the Jabalia refugee camp and surrounding northern areas, followed by a ground incrusion the next day.

Israel claims these operations aim to prevent Hamas from regrouping, while Palestinians argue the offensive seeks to occupy the area and forcibly displace its residents.

Israel has continued a devastating offensive on Gaza since an attack in October of last year by the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire.

More than 42,800 people have since been killed, mostly women and children, and over 100,500 others injured, according to local health authorities.

The Israeli onslaught has displaced almost the territory’s entire population amid an ongoing blockade that has led to severe shortages of food, clean water, and medicine.

Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio