Israeli tanks fitted with anti-drone cages ahead of possible Gaza invasion

Israeli tanks amassing outside Gaza ahead of a potential ground invasion have been equipped with anti-drone cages, similar to those used in the Russia-Ukraine war, media reports said.

The Washington Post shared images showing Israeli vehicles with modified coverings whose purpose is to protect soldiers inside from any explosives dropped from drones, Jerusalem Post reported.

“My assumption is that the Hamas attacks gave Israel the impetus to install the cages more widely,” Mark Cancian, a senior adviser with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told the Post. “It was probably something they had been thinking about before, since everyone is watching the war in Ukraine closely.”

“An interesting question is whether these structures will become standard for armored vehicles in conflict,” Cancian added. “The United States has not equipped its tanks with cages, but this may be a lesson armies need to learn the hard way.”

Video footage from the Hamas attacks on 7 October showed how the Islamic militant group used drones to drop explosives on Israeli communication installations, helping prevent a rapid response from the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), Jerusalem Post reported.

The drones, which appeared to be commercial gadgets easily available for purchase, have led to fears that this relatively simple method of attack could be adopted by other insurgent groups around the world.

The lack of response from Israeli security forces allowed Hamas to infiltrate several Gaza border communities and IDF army bases, causing over 1,400 alleged casualties.

In response, Israel has placed the Gaza Strip under siege and bombarded it continuously, including a reported deadly airstrike on Gaza's Al-Ahli hospital on Tuesday which left nearly 500 people dead, leading to widespread condemnation of the Israeli military.

However, Israeli officials claim the blast was caused by a rocket misfired within Gaza by the radical group Islamic Jihad, which collaborates with Hamas, which immediately denied any responsibility.