Eight Israeli soldiers were tragically killed in a blast in southern Gaza on Saturday, marking the deadliest incident for the army in the ongoing conflict since January. The soldiers were in an armoured vehicle that was hit by a major explosion, believed to have been caused by explosive “engineering material”, according to Israel’s military.
The incident took place during an operation in the Tal al-Sultan neighbourhood of Rafah, a key target for Israeli forces in recent weeks. Earlier, the armed wing of Hamas claimed responsibility for firing a rocket at an armoured vehicle after setting up an ambush.
The soldiers were returning from an overnight operation in Rafah when their vehicle exploded. Israeli media reported that 50 fighters were killed in that operation, while Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry stated that 30 Palestinians lost their lives in the past day.
Among the fallen soldiers was 23-year-old Captain Wassem Mahmoud, as confirmed by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed the country’s sorrow, stating that Israel had paid a “heart-rending price” in defense of its homeland. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant also conveyed his condolences, acknowledging the immense pain of such a loss.
Israeli ground troops are currently engaged in operations in Rafah to remove Hamas from what they consider to be its “last major stronghold”. Aid agencies have raised concerns about the dire humanitarian situation in Rafah, where approximately one million Palestinians are seeking refuge.
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recently highlighted the catastrophic hunger and famine-like conditions facing a significant portion of Gaza’s population. Several world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, have urged Israel to refrain from launching a full-scale assault on Rafah.
The Hamas-run health ministry reported that over 37,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war, with many more sustaining injuries or being displaced. The conflict began after Hamas initiated an attack on Israel on October 7, resulting in casualties and hostages being taken back to Gaza.
