The deadliest military incident of the ongoing battle claimed the lives of 21 Israeli troops on a terrible Monday in Gaza. After an Israeli army-planned demolition of two buildings, a rocket strike by Hamas caused them to fall. Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, called it one of the hardest days of the conflict.
The Mission:
The soldiers, from the IDF’s 205th and 261st Brigades, were carrying out a mission near Kissufim, close to the Israeli border. As they completed their task, a terrorist attacked, leading to a series of events that resulted in the collapse of the rigged buildings. The fallen soldiers, aged 22 to 40, are remembered as the nation’s best sons.
Grave Toll:
The incident marks the IDF’s single deadliest event since the start of its ground incursion into Gaza, bringing the military death toll to 219. In a separate assault on Khan Younis, three more soldiers lost their lives.
Khan Younis Assault:
The Israeli military surrounds Khan Younis, causing Palestinian residents to flee south or west. Despite Israel proposing a temporary truce, negotiations face challenges, with Hamas rejecting key conditions.
Tense Negotiations:
As the fighting in Gaza continues, the risk of regional war spreading increases. Yemen’s Houthi terror group, sympathetic to Hamas, vows retaliation against US and UK-led airstrikes on its strongholds.
Western Allies Respond:
The Western allies, alleging strikes on eight sites, are set to announce new sanctions against the Houthis, re-listing them as a terror organization. This move is in solidarity with Hamas, raising concerns about the broader impact on the region.
