Gaza: 21 Israeli soldiers were killed in the IDF's biggest loss in combat, the IDF says

Jerusalem
CNN
—

21 Israeli soldiers were killed During the fighting in southern Gaza The army said on Monday, in the largest loss of life for Israeli forces inside the devastated Strip since the start of the war with Hamas.

In a televised statement on Tuesday, Israeli army spokesman Admiral Daniel Hagari said a tank protecting Israeli forces was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade.

Israeli media reported that two soldiers who were in the tank were killed.

At the same time, two two-story buildings collapsed on the soldiers as a result of their explosion. He added that most of the dead Israeli forces were inside or near buildings.

Hajari said: “The buildings may have exploded due to mines that our forces planted there, in preparation for their demolition and the surrounding infrastructure.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the killing of the soldiers represented “one of the most difficult days since the outbreak of the war.”

In a post on X, Netanyahu said: “I want to strengthen the dear families of our heroic warriors who fell on the battlefield. “I know these families’ lives will be changed forever.”

“I am sad for our fallen heroic soldiers. I hug the families in their time of need and we all pray for peace for our wounded.” Netanyahu said the Israeli army had launched an investigation into the incident.

An Israeli military spokesman told CNN on Tuesday that it was “still unclear” what caused the building to explode.

He added that all families have been notified, but only 10 names have been released so far.

Hajari added that another soldier was seriously injured in the same incident.

The Israeli army's large-scale bombing campaign in Gaza continues since the October 7 killing and kidnapping by Hamas militants, which left about 1,200 people dead in Israel and the taking of more than 250 hostage, more than 130 of whom remain in prison. Families, alive. Or dead.

This fatal incident brings the number of Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza since the start of operations there to 219 soldiers.

In recent weeks, the IDF's main focus has been on southern Gaza, with heavy fighting around the city of Khan Yunis.

The Israeli military said on Tuesday that the city was now surrounded, while the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry says nearly 200 people were killed in the past day.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Israeli military said that “dozens of terrorists” had been killed in the past 24 hours by IDF ground forces in coordination with the Israeli Air Force.

“During the past day, Israeli army forces carried out a large-scale operation during which they cordoned off Khan Yunis and deepened the operation in the area. The Israeli army said that the area is an important stronghold for the Khan Yunis Brigade, affiliated with Hamas.

A source familiar with the matter told CNN on Monday that the ongoing major Israeli military offensive in western Khan Yunis is expected to continue for several more days. The source said that Israeli forces surrounded the Khan Yunis refugee camp and were conducting raids to try to dismantle Hamas' military capabilities in the region.

Medical facilities City residents were bombed amid an Israeli attack on the area on Monday, Palestinian health officials said, as the number of people increased killed in The Israeli blockade on Gaza continues to escalate.

The Hamas-controlled Health Ministry said on Monday that Nasser Hospital was receiving more seriously injured patients than it could handle and that intensive care units had reached maximum capacity.

This month, Israeli officials said their army would shift toward a new, less intense phase of operations in Gaza, but the humanitarian crisis in the Strip continues to worsen.

The Hamas-controlled Health Ministry in Gaza said on Monday that the number of Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since October 7 had risen to 25,295, with at least 63,000 infections recorded.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Tim Lester contributed to this report.