Hamas destroys Israel's best tank. They used tactics from Ukraine

An attack is underway on Israel. Hamas seems to be drawing from the experiences shared by soldiers fighting in Ukraine as they boast about destroying one of the world's most advanced tanks using a tactic we have often seen on the battlefields of Donbas and Zaporozhye. We explain why the Israeli vehicle did not survive the enemy's strike.

Hamas fighters launched a massive rocket attack on Israel as part of the so-called "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood". In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the country is in a state of war and announced the start of the "Iron Swords" retaliatory operation. Platform X (formerly Twitter) was flooded with more reports from the new conflict, including those that show us that Ukrainian experiences have influenced the way military operations are conducted around the world.

One of the first reports about Hamas' activities was a record detailing the destruction of a Merkava Mk4M tank, one of the best main battle tanks in the world, on which Israel built its armored power. The second video showed a drone dropping a grenade on a tank, a tactic commonly used by Ukrainians during the conflict with the Russian Federation.

The incident likely took place somewhere near the border of Israel with the Gaza Strip. The attacked tank had its armored shutters raised, which protect the anti-missile launchers of the Trophy HV system. This indicates that the Israelis were caught by surprise and the active defense system had no chance to stop the payload. An additional argument for this is the presence of a cover at the end of the barrel.

Further recordings on X suggest that the surviving tank crew was pulled out of the burning vehicle, the gunshots heard in the background may suggest that some of the Israeli soldiers were shot afterwards. Reports speak of the destruction or capture of an unknown number of Israeli tanks by Hamas fighters.

Israel prides itself on being one of the few countries capable of producing its own main battle tanks. And that's not all, because the Merkava IV tanks they produce have been heralded as the most advanced main battle tanks in the world, demonstrating the highest standard of crew protection, both in terms of armor and active defense, exceptional mobility, and powerful firepower thanks to a 120 mm (4.7 inch) caliber IMI gun.

In addition to the Trophy system, the elevated protection is provided by Mekrav through the hull's shape itself and the applied anti-reflective paints, which confuse radars, and a shield that prevents the mixing of the engine's warm air with outside air, reducing its infrared signature. A few months ago, Israel made the decision not to provide its tanks to Ukraine, which is struggling with a Russian invasion.

Some commentators, however, indicate that the Trophy system did not function during the Hamas attack. This may have been due to the enemy's use of the element of surprise, which did not give Israeli soldiers enough time to react. The tanks may also not have been fully ready for combat, as evidenced by the covers on the vehicle's cannons.