Terror in Uniform: Who Are Netzah Yehuda, Crushed by Gaza’s Resistance?
Israel’s infamous Netzah Yehuda Battalion (97th Battalion) suffered heavy losses in a powerful Hamas ambush in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza on Monday. According to Israeli reports, at least five soldiers were killed and 14 others wounded in the July 7 operation, described as one of the most damaging in the battalion’s history.
The ambush was carried out by Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas. A resistance commander told Al Jazeera that the resistance movement planted multiple explosive devices and opened fire on three consecutive Israeli rescue teams, all part of the ultra-Orthodox and far-right Netzah Yehuda Battalion. A fourth bomb and light weapons fire targeted surviving soldiers, resulting in severe casualties.
“We promise to dismantle this criminal battalion if it continues its atrocities,” the Qassam source said. The resistance movement also posted an image on Telegram vowing to “shatter the prestige of [Israel’s] army.”
Who Are They?
Netzah Yehuda, founded in 1999, is one of Israel’s most infamous military units. Originally created to integrate young Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) men into the army without compromising their religious lifestyle, the unit evolved into a home for both religious extremists and radical West Bank settlers known as the “Hilltop Youth.”
This battalion is not just religious; it is deeply ideological. Its members often hold far-right views and have committed repeated abuses against native Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. It is part of the Kfir Brigade under Division 99, known as “Fire Infantry,” trained for fighting across Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza.
The battalion received several awards from the Israeli army, including for “operational creativity.” It has also drawn serious international criticism for violent misconduct and war crimes.
Record of Abuse
Between 2015 and 2022, Netzah Yehuda soldiers were involved in dozens of violent attacks on Palestinian civilians. Documented abuses include arbitrary killings, beatings, torture, and sexual violence.
The most known case came in 2022, when troops from the battalion detained 78-year-old Palestinian-American Omar As’ad. Soldiers left him blindfolded, handcuffed, and gagged in freezing temperatures. He died hours later. The US State Department launched an investigation, and some Israeli soldiers received mild disciplinary action, but no prosecutions followed.
Due to repeated human rights violations, US officials have considered placing the battalion under the Leahy Law sanctions. These would block American funding, weapons, and training support for any military unit proven to abuse human rights.
Deployment to Gaza
Until recently, Netzah Yehuda operated mainly in the West Bank. Due to mounting scandals, the Israeli army redeployed it to the Golan Heights in 2022. But in early 2024, the unit was sent to Gaza for the first time.
Since then, it has operated in high-risk areas such as Beit Hanoun. Israel claims the battalion destroyed anti-tank rocket launchers and tunnels. But resistance forces say the battalion has continued its pattern of violence, targeting civilians and behaving as an occupying militia.
Resistance factions view the battalion not just as a military threat but as a symbol of settler extremism and religious fanaticism. “We have targeted this unit multiple times,” the Qassam commander said, citing past attacks including the high-casualty ambushes in Gaza’s agriculture zone and on railroad tracks.
Monday’s operation in Beit Hanoun marks the third time in 2025 that the battalion has been ambushed in northern Gaza. Military analysts in Israel have called it “humiliating” and said it reflects poorly on the army’s readiness.
Hospitals across southern Israel declared emergency states due to the influx of wounded soldiers. Hebrew media described the operation as “a field of fire” and “one of the darkest days for Netzah Yehuda.”
The operation also raises questions about Israel’s ongoing ground presence in Gaza. As the genocide drags into its 641st day, and with reports of over 57,000 Palestinians killed, many believe that no Israeli military victory has been achieved.
The Qassam Brigades warned that further resistance operations will follow. “As long as the aggression continues,” the statement read, “your funerals will too.”
