Ambush Thwarted: Terrorists with RPGs Confronted Soldiers Searching for Gvili’s Body

In a dramatic and dangerous final chapter to the mission of recovering Israel’s hostages, Israeli security forces successfully returned the body of Staff Sergeant Major Ran Gvili to Israel under heavy fire. The complex operation, which took place in the Al-Batsh cemetery on the outskirts of the Shuja'iyya neighborhood, was nearly compromised when two terrorists armed with an RPG launcher and small arms attempted to ambush the search teams. Soldiers from the Alexandroni Brigade and tank crews from the 75th Battalion identified the threat within firing range and launched tank shells at the attackers to neutralize the threat. Despite the life-threatening encounter, military officials confirmed that the incident did not halt the recovery efforts. The mission, which relied on a month-long intelligence trail including the interrogation of an Islamic Jihad terrorist, finally allowed Gvili, a hero who fell defending the border on October 7, to be brought to his final resting place in Israel.

Ambush at the Al-Batsh Cemetery

The ground operation to locate Gvili was a masterpiece of military and forensic coordination, though it was fraught with immediate physical danger. On Sunday afternoon, as reserve soldiers were meticulously searching the northern Gaza cemetery, two terrorists identified as active operatives approached the force. Carrying an RPG launcher, the duo moved toward the Alexandroni Brigade soldiers with the clear intent of launching a lethal attack. Recognizing the immediate danger, an armored force from the 75th Battalion engaged the targets, firing tank shells directly at the terrorists. The IDF is currently conducting a field assessment to confirm if the attackers were eliminated, though officials emphasized that the distraction did not delay the recovery team.

The search itself was a grim and precise task. The cemetery was divided into small, manageable sections, with each engineering crew accompanied by dentists and members of the Military Rabbinate to ensure immediate and accurate identification of remains. Defense officials noted that the mission had been delayed several times due to political constraints, but the urgency grew as intelligence suggested Gvili had been buried by Islamic Jihad terrorists who likely did not even realize he was a member of the Israeli security forces.

The Intelligence Breakthrough

The success of the mission was made possible by a breakthrough interrogation conducted by the Shin Bet. Approximately one month ago, during an operation in southern Gaza City, forces captured an Islamic Jihad terrorist who had been active in military operations against the IDF. During his interrogation in Israel, the operative confessed to being involved in the transport of Gvili’s body between several different locations. Crucially, he provided the names of other terrorists involved and pointed to the exact burial site in the Al-Batsh cemetery.

This intelligence allowed the IDF to launch a large-scale, targeted operation in an area that had been a site of heavy fighting throughout the war. Gvili, who had charged into the fire on October 7 to protect residents of the border communities, was eventually identified through the forensics provided by the specialized teams on site. His return marks the completion of a sacred duty for the IDF, proving that even in the heart of a war zone and under the threat of RPG fire, the state remains committed to leaving no one behind.