Israel finds explosive belts made for kids, toy chests with warheads in Gaza

Israeli soldiers found Hamas explosive belts adapted for children and toy chests hiding warheads at a Gaza kindergarten, the army said over the weekend.

The Israel Defense Forces said a sweep of a Hamas-operated area near schools, a mosque and a medical facility turned up a weapons compound filled with countless explosives.

In the compound, the IDF found explosive belts specifically modified for children to wear, along with dozens of mortar shells, hundreds of grenades and several intelligence documents, it said Sunday.

The raid on the compound was carried out after Israeli troops took out seven Hamas terrorists in the building.

A similar raid occurred at a Gaza school that was serving as a shelter for Palestinian refugees, the IDF said.

After the refugees were evacuated, a sweep of the building turned up rows and rows of grenades, RPG missiles, explosives and firearm ammunition.

The eerie discoveries were revealed just a day after the IDF announced that it had found another weapons cache inside a kindergarten.

“IDF troops found toy boxes filled with dozens of mortar shells, warheads and RPG type anti-tank missiles in a kindergarten in Gaza,” the Israeli military said in a statement.

The Israeli army has long accused Hamas of harboring its members and weapons inside civilian areas in Gaza, with the small explosive belts suggesting the terrorist group was even attempting to use child fighters in its war against Israel.

The IDF did not specify which areas in Gaza the raids took place, as the Jewish army advanced across all areas of the Palestinian enclave — and added forces underground to root out the enemy in its elaborate tunnel system.

The developments surfaced as gunfire broke out Sunday near the vital Rafah Crossing from Egypt into southern Gaza, creating “absolute chaos” around where aid trucks have been allowed to pass, CNN reported. It wasn’t clear who fired on the crowd. 

At least 14 Israeli soldiers have been killed in southern Gaza since Friday in one of the bloodiest 48 hours since the war began Oct. 7.

At least four soldiers were killed when their vehicle was hit by anti-tank missiles, according to Israeli Army Radio, with 10 others killed in separate conflicts.

A total of 153 IDF soldiers have been killed since the ground incursion began in October, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chalking up the casualties as the price being paid to eliminate Hamas once and for all.

“The war exacts a very heavy price from us but we have no choice but to continue fighting,” he told his war cabinet Sunday. “We are continuing with all the force, until the end, until victory, until we reach all our goals.”

Meanwhile, negotiators are seeking another temporary pause in hostilities to help free dozens of the remaining Israeli hostages being held captive in Gaza.

Israeli officials confirmed that Egypt, which is leading the talks along with Qatar, has submitted a proposed truce that would see hostilities halt for two weeks in exchange for 40 hostages, including women, minors and elderly men, the Times of Israel said.

Israel has specified that it wants those who are dealing with illness to be prioritized in the exchange.

In return, the Jewish state would free 120 Palestinians being kept in its prisons, specifically women and minors, according to reports from the Saudi-based Asharq channel.

The exchange deal would conclude with Israeli tanks withdrawing from Gaza and the arrival of more humanitarian aid to the nearly 2 million displaced people in the Palestinian enclave.

The second phase of the Egyptian plan would call on the Palestinian Authority to meet with Hamas officials and form a technocratic government focused on reconstructing the Gaza Strip and paving the way for the people to have a parliamentary government and presidential elections.

The final phase would see a de-escalation of the war along with the release of all remaining hostages in Gaza in return for Palestinian prisoners affiliated with Hamas and the Islamic Jihad terror groups.

In this last phase, Israel would agree to withdraw its forces from Gaza and allow the residents to return to their homes.

The Egyptian plan was unveiled after a meeting between officials in Cairo and Hamas top political leader Ismail Haniyeh that began last week.

It remains unclear if Israel would agree to such a cease-fire, as the Jewish state has repeatedly stated that it does not want the Palestinian Authority, or any foreign power, involved in post-war Gaza.

Netanyahu has also reiterated for weeks that regardless of any temporary cease-fire, Israel will not conclude its operations in Gaza until all of Hamas is captured or eradicated.