Israel announces death of 21 soldiers in deadliest attack on its troops in Gaza

in the middle of it Gaza Strip And barely 600 meters from its own area israeli army It has faced the deadliest attack since the war began 109 days ago as it expands its ground campaign in the southern region. John Eunice, Where they believe the radical group’s leadership is hiding Hamas, This also includes its leader and one of the main instigators of the October 7 attack, Yahia Sinwar.

21 soldiers died due to collapse of two buildings Where they were as a result of the impact of a portable anti-tank weapon fired by Hamas. “In a very serious incident, 21 reserve soldiers were killed who were working to create a security situation (security perimeter) in the area between Israeli cities and the Strip, allowing residents of southern Israel to return to their homes. To be allowed to return.” The army announced. Spokesman Daniel Hagari An unusual intervention took place in front of the television cameras first thing in the morning.

According to preliminary details about an attack still under investigation, “Terrorists fired RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade) missile at a tank were guarding the force and at the same time an explosion occurred in two two-storey buildings causing them to collapse while most of the force was inside or nearby.

“The forces had placed explosives in those terrorist buildings and infrastructure in the area,” he said of the mission aimed at destroying them. But Hamas stopped the controlled activation of the explosives. For several hours, the army carried out a complex rescue operation of living and dead soldiers, while rumors of soldiers being kidnapped multiplied.

“War has a very high cost. Our reservists sacrificed what was most precious to them so that we could all live here safely,” Hagari said.

benjamin netanyahu has announced that the Israeli army “They have started an investigation into the disaster, We must learn all lessons and make every possible effort to protect the lives of our soldiers.” The Israeli prime minister in a statement referred to it as “one of the most difficult days” since the outbreak of the war.

Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, He mourned the death of his soldiers. In a message on the And according to Israel, they are the elimination of Hamas as an armed group and regime in Gaza and the release of those abducted in the October 7 attack.

It is the deadliest day for Israeli soldiers since the ground offensive began on October 27. Following the death of 21 reservists not far from the Israeli community of Kisufim, We have to engage three soldiers in intense battles In the western area of ​​Khan Yunis. So far 219 soldiers have been killed in the ground operation against Hamas, which had been prepared for years specifically for this moment with a spectacular network of tunnels.

In response to the jihadist attack that killed 1,200 people and kidnapped 240 others in southern Israel, tsahl Launched an unprecedented military offensive by land, air and sea into the Gaza Strip. According to the Hamas-controlled health ministry, More than 25,200 Palestinians have been killed The devastated enclave is undergoing a dramatic humanitarian crisis in which 85% of its 2.3 million residents are considered internally displaced.