1 of 1 Military ambulance is photographed in the IsraelGaza border region on January 22, 2024 Photo: Portal/Amir Cohen Military ambulance is photographed in the IsraelGaza border region on January 22, 2024 Photo: Portal /Amir Cohen
An explosion killed 21 Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported this Tuesday (23). Three more of the country's soldiers died in combat inside the enclave in the last 24 hours.
With a total of 24 casualties, this is the highest number of Israeli military deaths since the beginning of the conflict in the Gaza Strip. The war between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, 2023 and lasted more than three months.
According to Israel Defense Forces spokesman Daniel Hagari, the explosion, which killed 21 soldiers, was caused by a shell fired from a rocket that hit a tank protecting the soldiers.
At the same time, the soldiers were hit by the rubble of two buildings, which collapsed after another explosion.
“We are still studying and investigating the details of the event and the reasons for the explosion,” Hagari said.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said the country faces an “unbearably difficult tomorrow.”
“The intense fighting is taking place in an extremely demanding environment and we strengthen the IDF soldiers and security forces who are working with endless determination to achieve the objectives of the fighting,” he wrote on social media.
Last week, Israel launched an offensive to capture the town of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. According to the Israeli military, the area is currently home to Hamas headquarters.