Hamas has released an extraordinary footage that shows a dramatic tunnel infiltration by its military wing into the Israeli border, in which the militants launch an assault that kills five Israeli soldiers.
The clip, which was broadcast on Hamas TV and has gone viral on the internet, shows militants running along a tunnel carrying machine guns and rocket launchers before emerging near an Israeli watchtower.
The three-minute-48-second film further shows the Hamas militants approaching the Israeli military post and then hiding. The camera then focuses on a soldier before militants fire at him.
The militants then burst through the gate of the post and run towards a soldier lying on the ground and fire at him multiple times at point blank range. The aggressive militants are then seen gathering around the body.
Mohammed Deif, the shadowy leader of Hamas's armed wing, said in a voiceover that Palestinians would not stop confronting Israel until their people get their 'freedom'.
"The occupying entity will not enjoy security unless our people live in freedom and dignity," Daily Mail quoted Deif.
"There will be no ceasefire before the (Israeli) aggression is stopped and the blockade is lifted. We will not accept interim solutions," he added.
This comes as Isael's heavy bombardment and shelling continue to intensify, while its three-week invasion of Gaza has left at least 1,200 Palestinians dead, most of them civilians. On the Israeli side, 53 soldiers and three civilians have been killed so far.
The Israeli assault has been intensified following the deaths of 10 soldiers in Palestinian cross-border attacks on Monday, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledging a long conflict ahead.
The appearance of the footage is likely to further intensify the Israeli offensive, prompting even more aggressive attacks on Gaza, as they aim to destroy all tunnels used by militants to carry out attacks, according to officials.
The army has reportedly pledged to complete the mission within a week's time and their cause has been enjoying considerable Israeli public support.
The UN Relief agency in Gaza, UNRWA, has said that they have reached almost a breaking point with over 200,000 people flocking to the nearby schools and buildings to take shelter following calls by Israel for civilians to evacuate the whole neighbourhoods before an increased military operation commences.
