By V.E.K.Madhushani , Jadetimes News
Operation in Gaza's Tal al Sultan Neighborhood Escalates Conflict
Eight Israeli soldiers were killed in a blast in southern Gaza on Saturday, marking the deadliest incident for the Israeli military since January, according to Israel’s military.
The soldiers were in an armored vehicle when it was struck by a significant explosion. A preliminary investigation suggests that the blast was caused by "engineering material" that detonated, the army reported. The incident occurred during an operation in the Tal al Sultan neighborhood of Rafah, a focal point for Israeli forces in recent weeks.
Earlier, Hamas's armed wing claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that it had launched a rocket towards an armored vehicle after setting up an ambush.
The soldiers were returning from an overnight operation in Rafah's Tal al Sultan neighborhood at approximately 05:15 local time (03:15 BST) when their armored vehicle reportedly exploded. Israeli media indicated that the operation resulted in the deaths of 50 fighters, while Gaza's Hamas run health ministry reported that 30 Palestinians were killed in the past day.
In a statement on social media, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) identified 23 year old Captain Wassem Mahmoud as one of the fallen soldiers. The names of the other soldiers will be released once their families have been notified.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged the heavy loss, stating that Israel had paid "a heart rending price in our just war in defense of our homeland." He affirmed that the country would persist in its efforts "to ensure our existence and our future."Defense Minister Yoav Gallant expressed his sorrow, noting "the immense pain that comes with such loss." Israeli ground troops continue to operate in Rafah, aiming to oust Hamas from what is considered its last major stronghold.
Humanitarian organizations have warned of a dire situation in Rafah, with the UN reporting that around one million Palestinians are seeking refuge there. On Wednesday, World Health Organization Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted that a significant portion of Gaza's population is facing "catastrophic hunger and famine like conditions."
Several world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, have urged Israel to refrain from launching a full scale assault on Rafah.
The Hamas run health ministry claims that more than 37,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the conflict, with hundreds of thousands more injured or displaced.
The conflict began after Hamas launched an attack on Israel on October 7, resulting in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and the capture of 251 hostages taken back to Gaza.