The Israeli military reported that twenty-four soldiers were killed in Gaza on Tuesday, marking the highest single-day death toll since the conflict began in October.
Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari informed reporters that 21 soldiers died in an explosion caused by rocket-propelled grenades fired by Hamas fighters at a tank.
Simultaneously, an explosion occurred in two buildings where Israeli forces had planted explosives. The buildings collapsed onto the troops. The military is currently investigating the details and reasons behind the explosion.
Earlier, the military had reported three soldiers killed in a separate attack in southern Gaza.
During the assault, Israeli forces penetrated deeply into western Khan Younis in Gaza, conducting an extensive air, sea, and land bombardment. This included storming a hospital and arresting medical staff, as reported by Gaza health ministry spokesman Ashraf al Qidra said.
There is no official word from Israel regarding the situation at the hospital, and the military spokesperson’s office has not provided any comments.
Meanwhile, the Gazan Health Ministry reported a somber update, stating that the death toll in Gaza from Israel’s conflict has now surpassed 25,000, with approximately 70 percent of the casualties being women and children.
The unfolding tragedy in Gaza casts a pervasive shadow over the region, with the recent 24-hour period witnessing a surge in casualties—178 Palestinians lost their lives, and 293 sustained injuries, emphasizing the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the besieged area.
The UN chief expressed deep concern, describing the civilian killings in Gaza as “heartbreaking and utterly unacceptable.”
The Gazan Health Ministry anticipates a further rise in casualties and injuries as rescue efforts continue, with dozens still believed to be trapped under the rubble, according to Tehran Times report.
Homes, once sanctuaries, now crumble due to Israeli actions, leaving families shattered. In early January, Gaza’s media office reported that over 65,000 tons of bombs were dropped by Israel, causing approximately 33 percent of buildings in the entire Gaza Strip to be destroyed, according to satellite data cited by the Associated Press.
The United Nations estimates that nearly 85 percent of Gaza’s population, totaling 1.9 million people, have been internally displaced, and over 90 percent face acute food insecurity. The situation is exacerbated by a severe lack of aid entering the enclave, with one in four people in Gaza reportedly starving.
The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) highlighted the complexity of the humanitarian operation, labeling it one of the most challenging globally.
