8 Israeli soldiers killed in southern Gaza ambush; deadliest day in months

The Israeli military confirmed the deaths of eight of its soldiers in a blast in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, after Hamas’s armed wing announced that it carried out an ambush on Israeli forces in the city’s Saudi neighbourhood.The Qassam Brigades says Israeli army air strikes have killed two Israeli captives held by the group in the Gaza Strip.UNRWA must be allowed to work unhindered in Gaza,  as their summit wraps up in Italy.At least 37,296 people have been killed and 85,197 wounded in Israel’s war on Gaza since October 7. The revised death toll in Israel from Hamas’s attacks stands at 1,139 with dozens of people still held captive in Gaza.

Hamas fighters killed eight Israeli soldiers traveling in military vehicles in Rafah after firing rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) and then ambushing a support force deployed to the scene.

The attacks on Saturday marked one of the deadliest days for Israeli soldiers in Gaza in months as its ground invasion of the southern region continues to ramp up.

Israel’s foreign minister Israel Katz said it had been “a difficult Saturday.”

“Eight of our best sons were killed in Rafah,” he said, writing in a post on X. “While knowing the price, they bravely entered Gaza to complete the mission of destroying Hamas and freeing the hostages.”