Israeli soldiers are said to have placed explosives in two buildings in central Gaza on Monday, when they themselves were hit by an attack.
The details of what happened are still unclear, but it began with a rocket-propelled grenade being fired at a tank close to the soldiers.
At the same time, the explosives the Israelis had prepared in the two buildings exploded.
21 Israeli soldiers are said to have lost their lives when the buildings collapsed on top of them.
– We are still investigating the details of the incident and the cause of the explosion, says spokesman for the Israeli military IDF, Daniel Hagari to Reuters.
Daniel Hagari says that the fallen soldiers sacrificed what they loved so that everyone could live in safety.
Photo: GIL COHEN-MAGEN / AFP
At the same time, three Israeli soldiers died in other incidents in the Gaza Strip on Monday.
Doesn’t stop the games
A total of 24 dead is the biggest loss Israel has experienced in one day since the ground war in the Gaza Strip began.
– Our reserve officers sacrificed what they loved most, so that we can all live here in complete safety, said Hagari.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant says that he “on this difficult and painful morning” sympathizes with the families of those killed.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that Israel has experienced one of the most difficult days of the war.
– In memory of our heroes, and for the sake of our lives, we will not stop the fighting until victory is absolute, says Netanyahu.
Displaced
Fierce fighting is ongoing in the largest city in the south of the Gaza Strip, Khan Younis.
Israel penetrates deep into the western part of the city. They carry out bombing attacks from the air, sea and ground and storm hospitals.
Residents said on Monday that the city was subjected to the heaviest attacks since the war began on October 7.
Hundreds of thousands of displaced people are in the areas under attack. Many also flee further south, to Rafah on the border with Egypt.
Israel claims that Khan Younis is now the headquarters of Hamas soldiers who were behind the attack on Israel on the seventh of October last year.
According to Israel, Hamas resides both in and near hospitals. Hamas and medical personnel reject this.
Damaged office
The Palestinian Red Crescent says its offices in Khan Younis were bombed, and that there was intense shooting from Israeli drones at the same time.
Internally displaced persons who sought refuge in their premises are said to have been injured in the attacks.
At least 25,295 Palestinians have been killed, and around 1.7 million are now displaced from their homes in the Gaza Strip.
The UN and aid organizations have sounded the alarm about hunger and the danger that diseases will spread among the refugees.
2024-01-23 10:34:48
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