Editing Merkava (section)

=== Operation Protective Edge 2014 ===
{{Main|Operation Protective Edge}}
[[File:Merkava4m-Windbreaker-0036a.jpg|thumb|Merkava Mk 4M Windbreaker, fitted with [[Trophy (countermeasure)|Trophy]] [[active protection system]], during [[2014 Israel–Gaza conflict|Operation Protective Edge]]]]

No tanks were damaged during Operation Protective Edge. The Merkava Mk 4M tanks, fitted with the Trophy Active Protection system, intercepted anti-tank missiles and RPGs on dozens of occasions during the ground operation.{{unreliable source? |date=August 2022}} During the operation, the system intercepted anti-tank weapons, mostly [[9M133 Kornet|Kornet]], and some [[9K115-2 Metis-M|Metis-M]] and [[RPG-29]], proving itself effective against man-portable anti-tank weapons.<ref name="news.walla.co.il">{{Cite news |url=http://news.walla.co.il/item/2770561 |trans-title=Rescued 15 tanks: Armored Iron Dome Gaza |work=Walla |place=[[Israel|IL]] |title=אמיר בוחבוט יום רביעי |date=July 30, 2014 |language=he |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208053633/http://news.walla.co.il/item/2770561 |archive-date=February 8, 2015}}</ref> By identifying the source of fire, Trophy also allowed tanks to kill a Hamas anti-tank team on one occasion.<ref name="news.walla.co.il"/>

Giora Katz, head of Rafael's land division, stated that it was a "breakthrough because it is the first time in military history where an active defense system has proven itself in intense fighting."<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.israeldefense.co.il/he/content/ |title=התעניינות-עצומה-במעיל-רוח התעניינות עצומה ב'מעיל רוח מערכת |work=Israel Defense |date=2014-10-13 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316123553/http://www.israeldefense.co.il/he/content/%D7%94%D7%AA%D7%A2%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%99%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%A2%D7%A6%D7%95%D7%9E%D7%94-%D7%91%D7%9E%D7%A2%D7%99%D7%9C-%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%97 |archive-date=March 16, 2016}}</ref>

The [[401st Brigade (IDF)|401st Brigade]], equipped with Merkava Mk 4M tanks, alone killed between 120 and 130 Hamas fighters during the ground fighting phase of Operation Protective Edge, according to the IDF.<ref>{{cite news |place=Israel |url=http://www.maariv.co.il/news/new.aspx?pn6Vq=E&0r9VQ=GEDGI |title=The stars of Operation Protective Edge: the tanks that cracked the terrorist infrastructure of Hamas |work=Maariv |date=2014-08-25 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715183722/http://www.maariv.co.il/news/new.aspx?pn6Vq=E&0r9VQ=GEDGI |archive-date=July 15, 2015}}</ref>