Eight Israeli soldiers were killed while riding in an armored vehicle in southern Gaza on Saturday, the Israeli military said, as Israel’s offensive on the southern city of Rafah continued to take a toll on its troops.
The Israeli military said the death occurred around 5:15 a.m. while Israeli troops were conducting operations in the Tel al-Sultan area west of Rafah. The military said the eight soldiers belonging to the military’s engineering corps were riding in an armored vehicle when the explosion occurred.
The Palestinian armed group Hamas said in a statement that its militants fired anti-tank missiles at Israeli military vehicles west of Rafah, killing some soldiers. Israeli military spokesman Maj. Gen. Daniel Hagari told reporters that it was unclear whether it was an explosive device or an anti-tank missile that damaged the vehicle.
The explosion damaged the vehicle but may have also ignited ammunition inside, Israeli military officials said, adding that the blast was severe enough to make finding and identifying the bodies difficult.
Israel’s fighting in the Gaza Strip has continued for more than eight months after a Hamas-led attack on October 7 killed about 1,200 people in Israel, mostly civilians, and took about 250 people hostage. More than 36,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, according to Palestinian health officials, who do not distinguish between combatants and civilians.
Hamas has waged a tenacious guerrilla war, resisting Israeli efforts to decisively defeat the group, bring down its leaders and bring back many of those abducted in the October 7 raid. The operation has killed an estimated 13,000 to 14,000 militants in Gaza, according to the Israeli military. Israeli officials have yet to provide proof of the calculation.
More than 300 Israeli soldiers have been killed since Israel began its ground invasion of Gaza in late October. At the end of January, about 20 Israeli soldiers were killed while preparing to demolish buildings in Gaza close to the Israeli border.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly mourned the soldiers’ deaths and called on Israel to remain committed to its military goals of destroying Hamas, bringing back hostages and “ensuring that Gaza no longer threatens Israel.”
“Victory is irreplaceable,” Mr. Netanyahu added. “Don’t let anyone distract you from a simple and clear fact: We must remain committed to the goals of the war, despite the sacrifices. The price is heavy and painful.
Netanyahu has been criticized by parts of the Israeli public, families of Gaza hostages and former security officials. Some believe that only a reconciliation with Hamas can repatriate the remaining 120 living and dead prisoners; others believe that his failure to propose a clear post-war alternative to Hamas has led to the country’s dilemma in Gaza.
Israeli forces rescued four hostages in central Gaza over the weekend during a rescue operation that left dozens of Gazans dead, according to local health officials. Admiral Hagari praised the mission but added, “We have to be honest – we can’t bring everyone home in this way.”
In recent weeks, Israeli forces have moved closer to Rafah, sweeping along the border with Egypt in an attempt to destroy tunnels they say Hamas is using to smuggle weapons into Gaza. They also carried out attacks on the city. The United Nations estimates that more than one million Palestinians have fled Rafah.
In the northern town of Beit Jann, home to Arab Israelis of the Druze faith, residents mourned Waseem Mahmoud, one of the fallen soldiers. The Druze occupy an unusual middle ground in Israel: Arab adherents of a minority religion who often serve in the Israeli military and security forces.
Residents of the town had planned to celebrate Eid al-Adha, a holiday shared by Muslims and Druze. But town mayor Nazih Dabour said all public celebrations had been canceled in light of the news.
“We cannot celebrate while burying a child,” said Mr. Daboul, who called the family on Saturday to offer his condolences. “This is a huge tragedy for us.”
