Parachute Landing of Al-Qassam at Zikim Military Base

The Israeli army confirmed that the Zikim base was subjected to a parachute landing by Al-Qassam Brigades. Zikim settlement is located on the northern border of the Gaza Strip and south of Tel Aviv, under the jurisdiction of Ashkelon city, and it includes the military base "Zikim" overlooking the city's beaches. The significance of the base lies in its location within the settlement, which has tight security fortifications, as there is an oil refinery and a power station that supplies electricity to southern Israel alongside the mentioned military base. The initial features of the settlement emerged in 1949 by a group of young Jews belonging to the "Hashomer Hatzair" organization. At that time, the settlements were scattered and disorganized. Zikim was established on land that was part of the Palestinian village of Hirbat, which Israelis claim was abandoned. Zikim (meaning "a point of light") began attracting Jewish settlers from around the world, especially followers of "Hashomer Hatzair," and in 1971, the "Poliron" factory was established there, which is considered one of the most successful mattress factories in Israel. It is noteworthy that Al-Qassam had previously attacked the base due to its strategic importance.