Tel Aviv (diplomat.so) - In a tragic escalation of violence, four Israeli soldiers fell victim to an ambush by Hamas militants within the extensive tunnel network in Gaza on Saturday. The attack marked a devastating blow to the Israeli military, bringing the total number of military casualties to 604 since October 7.
The ambush unfolded as the troops, aged between 20 and 21 years old, were conducting a patrol along the logistics route in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. Suddenly, gunmen emerged from a tunnel concealed within a destroyed building, unleashing a barrage of gunfire on the unsuspecting soldiers.
The fallen soldiers, identified as Captain Ido Baruch, Sergeant Amitai Even Shoshan, Sergeant Ilai Zair, and Sergeant Reef Harush, were all part of the Commando Brigade's training base. Despite their efforts to pursue the assailants, who retreated into the labyrinthine tunnel network, the soldiers encountered booby traps that impeded their advance.
The latest statistics released by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) underscore the relentless barrage endured by Israel, with over 9,200 rockets launched by Hamas into Israeli territory. The IDF claims to have neutralized over 12,000 militants, seized or destroyed more than 3,000 rockets and launchers, and struck 32,000 targets from the air since the conflict erupted six months ago.
The ongoing conflict has exacted a heavy toll on both sides, with Gaza witnessing widespread devastation and chaos. Aid agencies warn of an imminent humanitarian crisis, with two-thirds of Gaza's population displaced and the region teetering on the brink of famine.
Hamas, which initiated the conflict with its invasion of Israel on October 7, continues to resist Israeli efforts to eradicate its presence and secure the release of hostages. According to Hamas figures, over 32,000 Palestinians have perished in Israel's retaliatory strikes, underscoring the grim toll exacted by the protracted conflict.
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