Seven Israeli soldiers, including commander, killed in Gaza

At least seven Israeli military personnel, including a commander and six soldiers, were killed in southern Gaza when an explosive device planted in their vehicle detonated.

According to Reuters, the Israeli military confirmed that the soldiers were killed in an explosion on Tuesday in Khan Younis.

The Israel Occupation Forces (IOF) stated that the soldiers were killed in what it described as a “Palestinian terror” attack. All deceased soldiers served in the IOF’s 605th Combat Engineering Battalion.

The explosion ignited a fire that engulfed the vehicle. Despite efforts to control the blaze, it could not be extinguished in time, and all soldiers inside were burned to death.

"Now the focus shifts back to Gaza": Israeli military chief after ceasefire with Iran 

The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict began on October 7, 2023, when a surprise attack by Hamas resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people in Israel and the abduction of 251 others. As of now, 49 hostages are still believed to be held in Gaza.

Israel's military operations in Gaza have resulted in an unprecedented number of casualties.  According to the Gaza Health Ministry, over 56,077 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed since the start of the Israeli military offensive.

The military assault has also caused a dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with widespread shortages of food, medicine, and clean water, pushing the region’s two million residents toward famine-like conditions.

Following a recent ceasefire agreement with Iran,  the Israeli military chief stated that occupation forces would pivot their efforts back to the Gaza Strip. To date, over 430 Israeli soldiers have been killed in the conflict.