IDF experiences one of its bloodiest days in Gaza
According to RT, eight Israeli soldiers were killed in a Hamas ambush near the southern tip of the Palestinian enclave.
Hamas militants have killed eight Israeli soldiers in an ambush in southern Gaza, marking one of the bloodiest incidents in West Jerusalem in the Palestinian enclave since the war began last October.
Hamas’ Al Qassam Brigades said they carried out a “complex ambush” on Israeli Defense Force (IDF) vehicles on June 15 in Tal al-Sultan, west of Rafah. The incident began with an attack on a military bulldozer, which caught fire. Hamas said that when other Israeli soldiers came to rescue the injured members of the vehicle, the Palestinian group attacked their armored vehicle, causing more casualties.
The IDF said the incident was under investigation to determine possible causes. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz paid tribute to the fallen soldiers, saying: “Saturday was difficult. Eight of our best sons were killed in Rafah. Knowing the price they would pay, they bravely entered Gaza to complete their mission to destroy Hamas and free the hostages.”
Israeli officials have ignored international condemnation for pushing ahead with the IDF's Rafah operation, which has endangered civilians in a city where more than 1 million Palestinians have taken refuge after their neighborhoods in other parts of the enclave were bombed. According to Gaza's health ministry, more than 37,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began. The conflict began when Hamas launched surprise attacks on southern Israeli villages, leaving more than 1,100 dead and hundreds taken back to Gaza as hostages.
Saturday’s ambush was the deadliest for the IDF since January, when 21 soldiers were killed in an explosion that caused two buildings to collapse. More than 300 Israeli soldiers have been killed since fighting in Gaza began.
The ambush targeted an armored convoy that was reportedly heading toward several buildings seized by the IDF early on June 15. The IDF said troops from the 401st Armored Brigade killed around 50 militants during the overnight attack northwest of Tal al-Sultan. The soldiers had planned to rest in the seized buildings.