The gang of thieves who robbed the Louvre Museum on Sunday and made off with some of France’s most famous crown jewels might end up melting their loot down, an ex-FBI art crime expert said.

Tim Carpenter also suggested the team of robbers behind the "shocking" operation were focused on treasures of immense cultural and historical value.

"This was a targeted heist," Carpenter told Fox News Digital.

"They knew precisely what they were going for, and they understood the value and the cultural significance of these pieces," he continued. "They also understood that this was extraordinarily important to the people of France."

MUSEUM'S ANCIENT BRACELET THEFT JOINS LIST OF OTHER PRICELESS ARTIFACTS STOLEN AND DESTROYED WORLDWIDE

Also "shocking," Carpenter noted, "is that it was a daytime robbery while the museum was open."

The Louvre was forced to close its doors following the daring morning theft, which happened in under seven minutes and left police racing to recover the jewels.

The raid, at around 9:30 a.m. local time, targeted the museum’s Apollo Gallery, home to historic treasures linked to Napoleon and Empress Eugénie.

The crew reportedly stole a crown believed to have belonged to Empress Eugénie, Le Parisien reported. 

According to The Associated Press, eight objects were taken, including a sapphire diadem, necklace and single earring from a matching set linked to 19th-century French queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense.

An emerald necklace and earrings from the matching set of Empress Marie-Louise were also reportedly snatched alongside a reliquary brooch, Empress Eugénie’s diadem and her large corsage-bow brooch.

"They could be melted down or pieced out," Carpenter explained. "They'll punch stones out of the crowns, and they'll cut the stones, and they'll market them individually."

EGYPTIAN OFFICIALS SCRAMBLE TO RECOVER ANCIENT PAINTING STOLEN FROM 'CURSED' TOMB AMID RECENT THEFTS

According to French daily Le Parisien, the thieves, two of whom were disguised as construction workers, entered the museum after parking next to it. They extended a lift to a first-floor window and smashed it open with an angle grinder.

The time "is when the museum is kind of its most chaotic. People are getting settled," added Carpenter.

"They breached through a window and made this really brazen. These guys are fast and moving quickly with a purpose, and they breach, and they get in there really quickly," he added.

After the heist, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez spoke to radio station France Inter and said the thieves "entered from the outside using a basket lift" and "a disc cutter" to slice through glass panes containing precious jewels.

"The investigation has begun, and a detailed list of the stolen items is being compiled," the ministry also said in a statement. "Beyond their market value, these items have inestimable heritage and historical value."

THOUSANDS OF PROTESTORS PROMPT WORLD-FAMOUS LANDMARK TO CLOSE ITS DOORS ON TOURISTS

"Because it's a historic building, there are just natural vulnerabilities that occur, and these guys just found one of those and found a way to exploit it," Carpenter said.

"That is definitely a risk," he continued. "When you look at a building like the Louvre… there always has to be a balance."

"I think the local authorities there have a very strong chance of doing a really effective criminal investigation, identifying these perpetrators and hopefully recovering these pieces before they're lost to us," concluded Carpenter.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Louvre Museum for comment.

Two Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers were killed by terror operatives in Rafah, southern Gaza, threatening the ceasefire with Hamas, Israeli military sources confirmed to Fox News Digital on Sunday.

The soldiers, Major Yaniv Kula, 26, a company commander in the 932nd Battalion of the Nahal Brigade, and Staff Sergeant Itay Yavetz, 21, a combat soldier in the same battalion, were both based in Modi’in-Maccabim-Reut.

According to the initial IDF investigation, a militant cell had emerged from a tunnel and fired at an excavation vehicle, killing the two soldiers. A reserve soldier was also severely wounded and evacuated to a hospital, per The Times of Israel.

According to Professor Kobi Michael, senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) and the Misgav Institute, the attack showed the fragility of the ceasefire deal.

ISRAEL SAYS HAMAS VIOLATED CEASEFIRE WITH 'MULTIPLE ATTACKS' LEADING TO IDF RESPONSE

"Today’s violation of the agreement was severe," Michael said. "I assume that this is not going to be the last one," he told Fox News Digital.

"Israel complies [with President Trump’s] plan and wants to continue with the realization of the plan," he said.

"This agreement was violated since the first day by Hamas," Michael added. "And it continued with their behavior with regard to the hostages, the dead hostages."

"All the manipulation that they are doing plays on the nerves of Israeli society," he continued, saying the terror group is "making themselves as if they are not able… to find the bodies where everybody knows that they can."

STATE DEPARTMENT WARNS HAMAS MAY VIOLATE CEASEFIRE WITH ATTACK ON PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS

Michael detailed how the first violation came immediately after the redeployment of the IDF along the so-called Yellow Line, "when Hamas first sent [civilian] children in order to provoke the IDF, in order to check if the IDF is aware enough and ready enough."

"And then they sent militants of Hamas, and some of them were even killed along the yellow line," he said.

"They continue reconstituting themselves and attacking the IDF by using the tunnels, using the shafts going out, because they now feel much freer, because the IDF left the populated area," he explained.

Michael also cited Hamas' "butchering" of civilians "because they suspect that they collaborated with Israel, or because they are afraid that these hamulas or clans might oppose them in the future… and weaken them."

ISRAELI TROOPS 'OPEN FIRE' ON SUSPECTS WHO APPROACHED SOLDIERS IN NORTHERN GAZA

In response to Sunday's attack, the IDF launched air and ground strikes across southern Gaza.

"The IDF also struck and dismantled six kilometers of underground terrorist infrastructure, using over 120 munitions. The underground site was used by the terrorist organization to advance attacks against the State of Israel," it said in a statement.

"The IDF will continue to respond firmly and will operate to eliminate any threat to the State of Israel," it said.

Israel simultaneously announced a suspension of all humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. 

Michael warned that Hamas has no intention of dismantling itself and cooperating with the plan when it comes to demilitarizing the Gaza Strip and establishing a mechanism of alternative governance.

"Hamas is still using the tunnels, and intends to reconstruct the tunnels that were destroyed by Israel, because they intend to continue the war against Israel," he said.

STATE DEPARTMENT WARNS HAMAS MAY VIOLATE CEASEFIRE WITH ATTACK ON PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS

He said that the militant organization has been rebuilding its ranks and reasserting control in the Strip.

"They immediately recruited [thousands] of people and deployed them and are butchering their own people," Michael said.

"They do not intend to give up on their position and influence in the Gaza Strip. They do not accept the idea of dismantling themselves. And they do not accept the idea that a foreign force or board will govern the Gaza Strip," he concluded.

The incident comes just days after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire, which took effect Oct. 10, temporarily halted the two-year war between Israel and Hamas. 

Under the deal, hostages were released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, and a ceasefire was declared.

Later on Sunday, the IDF announced the resumption of the ceasefire, following retaliatory strikes.

ISRAEL’S COVERT CAMPAIGN TARGETS HAMAS TERRORISTS BEHIND OCT 7 MASSACRE

"In accordance with the directive of the political echelon and following a series of significant strikes in response to Hamas’ violations, the IDF has begun the renewed enforcement of the ceasefire," a statement read.

"The IDF will continue to uphold the ceasefire agreement and will respond firmly to any violation of it," the military added.

In a statement, Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon said: "Earlier today, two IDF soldiers, Maj. Yaniv Kula and Staff Sgt. Itay Yavetz, were killed by Hamas terrorists in Rafah in what was a flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement."

"We mourn their loss and send our condolences to their families. Israel has abided by the terms of the ceasefire agreement, but we will make it clear to Hamas terrorists that the IDF will do whatever it takes to protect Israel’s security," Danon added.

Michael, meanwhile, predicted delays in reopening the Rafah Crossing, a critical entry point for aid and movement.

"I don’t think Rafah Crossing will open tomorrow," he said. "It will take several days until it is opened," he said.