Israel Claims 24 Soldiers Killed in Gaza in Worst One-Day Toll

Israel claims that 24 of its soldiers were killed in Gaza on Monday, marking the highest one-day Israeli death toll since fighting began in the enclave.

On Tuesday, the Israeli military also claimed to have encircled southern Gaza’s main city and killed dozens of Palestinian fighters in a major ground assault of the new year.

Twenty-one Israeli soldiers were killed during intense fighting in Gaza, military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said on Tuesday.

At around 4 p.m. local time in central Gaza, militants fired on an Israeli tank and, at the same time, there were massive explosions at two nearby buildings, he said, adding that the resulting blasts near the border fence with Israel killed 21 servicemen.

“The buildings collapsed as a result of this explosion, while most of the soldiers were inside and around the buildings,” the spokesman said.

“The buildings likely exploded from ordnance that our forces set up there to blow up the buildings and the terror infrastructure in the area.”

On the other hand, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday represented “one of the most difficult days since the start of the war.”

“The IDF has opened an investigation into the disaster,” he said in a statement.

“We must draw the necessary lessons and do everything to preserve the lives of our soldiers.”

As reported, the Israeli forces continue the offensive on the 109th day of the war and are advancing deeper into the southern and central parts of Gaza and fighting remains intense. 

Around 200 Israeli soldiers had been killed in the territory before the latest incident, according to the Israel Defense Forces.