Israel Reports 4 Soldiers Killed in Gaza, Calls for More Troops

The Israeli military confirmed the deaths of four soldiers during operations in southern Gaza, highlighting ongoing security challenges and troop shortages. The fatalities occurred in the Khan Younis area, where the soldiers were engaged in an operation targeting a Hamas compound. According to military spokesperson Effie Defrin, the deaths were caused by an explosive device that triggered a building collapse at approximately 6:00 a.m. local time. Five additional soldiers sustained injuries, one of them critically.

These deaths bring the total number of Israeli soldiers killed in the Gaza ground offensive—launched in late October 2023—to 429. The recent losses come amid intensified Israeli military activity across Gaza and coincide with growing domestic political tensions over compulsory military service exemptions for the ultra-Orthodox population.

Conscription Debate Threatens Israeli Coalition Stability

The question of drafting ultra-Orthodox Jewish men into the military has become increasingly contentious within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government. Spokesperson Defrin described the current situation as an operational emergency, emphasizing that the army is currently short around 10,000 soldiers, including roughly 6,000 combat personnel. He also noted that tens of thousands of draft notices are expected to be issued in the upcoming conscription cycle.

Netanyahu faces mounting pressure from ultra-Orthodox political factions, who insist that the long-standing exemption from military service for their community be formalized in law. Failure to do so could prompt these parties to withdraw their support from his government, threatening its survival. At the same time, public frustration is rising over the unequal burden on reservists and their families, many of whom have been repeatedly called up since the war began.

According to military testimony presented to a parliamentary committee in April, only 232 of 18,000 conscription notices sent to ultra-Orthodox men received affirmative responses. In a late-night statement on Friday, Netanyahu’s office reported that he had met with a Likud party lawmaker advocating for increased enlistment among the ultra-Orthodox and stiffer penalties for non-compliance. While progress was noted, key disagreements remain unresolved.

Escalating Violence Overshadows Eid Celebrations

As military operations continued, Gaza’s civil defense agency reported that Israeli strikes on Friday resulted in at least 38 Palestinian deaths. This occurred as Muslims in Gaza attempted to observe the Eid al-Adha holiday for a second consecutive year under conditions of war, severe deprivation, and constant danger.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, even after some easing of a prolonged Israeli blockade on aid. Residents are facing extreme shortages of food, water, and basic necessities, which have undermined traditional Eid celebrations. One mother, speaking from Nasser Hospital, described how her son was killed by an explosion moments after preparing for the holiday. The incident underscored the deep civilian toll of the conflict.

The conflict was reignited by a Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which left 1,218 people dead in Israel, most of them civilians. In response, Israel launched a wide-ranging military campaign in Gaza. Since resuming its offensive on March 18 following a brief truce, Israeli actions have resulted in at least 4,402 additional deaths, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. Overall, the war has claimed at least 54,677 lives in Gaza, the majority of whom were civilians.

The Israel Defense Forces did not immediately issue a response regarding the reported strikes on Friday.

In a separate development, Netanyahu faced criticism over reports that his administration supported an armed group in Gaza opposed to Hamas. Former defense minister Avigdor Liberman alleged that weapons were being supplied to what he described as a group of criminals operating in Rafah, accused of looting humanitarian aid. The group has been characterized by independent observers as a loosely organized gang with a history of criminal activity in the region.