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Tragedy Strikes as 21 Israeli Soldiers Lose Their Lives in Southern Gaza Clash

In a devastating turn of events, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on Monday that 21 soldiers lost their lives during intense fighting in southern Gaza. This marks the largest single loss of life for Israeli troops within the battered enclave since the conflict with Hamas began.

The tragic incident occurred when two buildings collapsed on the soldiers after being hit by a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) during a military operation, as revealed by Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the IDF spokesperson, in a televised statement on Tuesday. Another soldier was seriously injured in the same incident.

While all families have been notified, only 10 names of the fallen soldiers have been released so far, according to Hagari. The Israeli military is deeply involved in a large-scale bombing campaign in Gaza, initiated in response to the October 7 murder and kidnapping rampage by Hamas gunmen. This earlier attack resulted in the death of around 1,200 people in Israel, with over 240 taken hostage. Currently, more than 130 individuals remain in captivity, either alive or deceased.

Before Monday’s incident, the IDF reported that 198 Israeli soldiers had died since the commencement of operations in Gaza. Recent weeks have seen the military’s main focus on southern Gaza, with particularly intense fighting around the city of Khan Younis. The IDF announced on Monday that it was intensifying ground operations to the west of the city.

In a statement, the IDF emphasized the challenging nature of their mission, stating, “The IDF is fighting a terrorist organization that embeds itself in the civilian population, and skilled and experienced units are working to dismantle the Hamas military framework.” They acknowledged the complexity of the task, given Hamas’s practice of embedding itself in locations such as hospitals and schools.

The assault in the area has taken a toll on medical facilities, as reported by Palestinian health officials. The Hamas-controlled health ministry in Gaza stated that the number of Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since October 7 has now risen to 25,295, with at least 63,000 injuries recorded. The conflict continues to escalate, raising concerns about the humanitarian impact on the civilian population caught in the crossfire.