Army spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said the Hamas fighters fired a rocket-propelled grenade at an Israeli tank, while, simultaneously, an explosion caused two two-storey buildings to collapse. “The buildings collapsed due to this explosion, while most of the forces were inside and near them,” Hagari added. He said an investigation had been launched into the incident as the explosion was the result of mines planted by Israeli soldiers.
Jerusalem, Jan. 23: At least 24 Israeli soldiers were killed on Monday as intense fighting raged in the southern and central Gaza Strip, where Israel has been attacking remaining strongholds of Hamas, and trying to clear areas near the border, reports Reuters.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Tuesday that Israel would not stop fighting in Gaza until “absolute victory” after it sustained its highest single-day death toll in the Palestinian enclave, the report added.
It was in one of those border areas that 21 of the soldiers died when there was an explosion in a building and it collapsed.
According to an Anadolu report, army spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, in a statement, said the incident took place near the Kissufim border community as Hamas attacked the soldiers attempting to destroy military infrastructure of the Palestinian resistance group.
He said the Hamas fighters fired a rocket-propelled grenade at an Israeli tank, while, simultaneously, an explosion caused two two-storey buildings to collapse.
“The buildings collapsed due to this explosion, while most of the forces were inside and near them,” Hagari added.
He said an investigation had been launched into the incident as the explosion was the result of mines planted by Israeli soldiers, though the cause of their detonation is yet to be confirmed.
Netanyahu said Israel had experienced one of its most difficult days of the war. “In the name of our heroes, for the sake of our lives, we will not stop fighting until absolute victory,” he said.
Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said his heart was with the families of those killed on “this difficult and painful morning”, but that Israel would not back down.
“This war will determine the future of Israel for decades to come – the fall of soldiers is needed to achieve the goals of the war,” he further said.
The military said the incident appeared to have started when a rocket-propelled grenade was fired at a tank guarding troops operating inside Gaza, 600 metres (yards) from the border fence with Israel.
At the same time, an explosion occurred in two two-storey buildings where they had planted explosives, demolishing them.
“We are still examining and investigating the details of the event and the reason for the explosion,” said military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari.
News of the overnight incident dominated Israeli media coverage throughout the morning.
“That’s horrible, that’s horrendous, it’s terrible. You know, it’s our sons, it’s our brothers, it’s terrible – but we got to do what we got to do so that October 7 doesn’t happen again,” Blima Rhodes told Reuters on the main street in her Jerusalem neighbourhood.
At least 25,295 Gazans have been killed in Israel’s bombardment and invasion, according to Gaza health authorities.
About 1,200 Israelis were killed in the Oct. 7 attack, and the military says 210 soldiers have died in the subsequent offensive.
