Israeli army reports eight soldiers killed in Gaza

The Israeli military reported that eight soldiers were killed in Gaza on Saturday when their armored vehicle was hit by a bomb, marking one of the most significant losses for the Israeli army since the conflict began in October.

The military identified Captain Wassem Mahmud, 23, and seven other soldiers who “fell during operational activity in southern Gaza,” confirming that their families have been informed.

The incident occurred in the Tal al-Sultan area of Rafah, a city in southern Gaza, where intense street battles with Palestinian militants are ongoing. Preliminary investigations indicate that the vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb, which caused a secondary explosion inside the vehicle due to the bomb’s significant impact.

The military noted the substantial damage to the vehicle and the resulting difficulty in identifying and locating the bodies. Military spokesman Daniel Hagari elaborated in a televised briefing, stating the explosion was likely from an explosive device planted in the area or from an anti-tank missile.

Meanwhile, thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv for their weekly protest against the government’s handling of the war. Graciela Barchilon, a 68-year-old protester, expressed her collective grief and frustration, stating, “Every soldier who dies is like a family member who dies. We experience it as a collective loss.”

Saturday’s casualties add to the heavy toll on the military since the ground offensive began on October 27. Previously, on January 22, 21 soldiers were killed when rocket-propelled grenades struck a tank near two buildings identified as “terrorist infrastructure” by the military.

The recent deaths bring the total military losses to 306 since the offensive started. The conflict began with Hamas’s unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, which Israeli authorities say resulted in approximately 1,194 Israeli deaths. In response, Israel’s offensive has led to at least 37,296 deaths in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the territory’s health ministry.