At least 21 Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) personnel have been killed in action during an operation in central Gaza on Monday (Jan. 22), making it the deadliest incident in terms of Israeli military losses since its war against Hamas began on October 7.
The Independent cited local media reporting that the Israeli soldiers were preparing explosives to demolish two buildings in central Gaza when militants fired a rocket-propelled grenade at a nearby tank. The strike was followed by a huge explosion, causing the buildings to collapse while the soldiers were still inside.
IDF chief spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said that the killed soldiers were operating in an area around 600 meters from the border near Kissufim when the building collapsed while troops were still inside.
The casualty count could further rise in the next few hours as more names were expected to be announced.
Another Day of Mourning
The death toll in the recent attack could increase domestic pressure on the Israeli government to halt its offensive in Gaza. However, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant insisted that the deaths compelled the IDF to "achieve" its goal of eradicating Hamas.
"Our hearts are with the dear families in their most difficult time," he said about the relatives of the fallen personnel.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog also expressed condolences and grief for what he called an "unbearably difficult morning."
"On behalf of the entire nation, I console the families and pray for the healing of the wounded," he added. "Even on this sad and difficult morning, we are strong and remember that together we will win."
On the other hand, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the mass casualty "one of the most difficult days since the start of the war."
Rescue workers have been deployed at the site of the attack to look for survivors, and at the same time, an investigation has also been launched to confirm how the explosives detonated and brought down the building.
Meanwhile, the Hamas-controlled Gaza health ministry said that the death toll among Palestinians in the strip rose above 25,000, without distinguishing between militant and civilian casualties.
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