Israeli army says 5 soldiers killed, 14 injured in northern Gaza

Five Israeli soldiers were killed and 14 others were injured in battles in the northern Gaza Strip, the army said Tuesday.

“Five soldiers from the Netzah Yehuda Battalion of the Kfir Brigade were killed in battles in the northern Gaza Strip on Monday evening, and 14 others were injured, including two seriously wounded," the army said in a statement.

Israeli Army Radio reported that the incident occurred when a foot patrol from the Netzah Yehuda Battalion was crossing the town of Beit Hanoun.

"The infantry soldiers were hit by a bomb planted on the side of a road shortly after 10 p.m. (1900GMT) on Monday, during ground operations in Beit Hanoun. The soldiers were operating on foot, and were not inside a vehicle,” the broadcaster said.

"While evacuating the injured from the explosion site, armed militants fired from an ambush towards the rescue forces, resulting in more casualties.”

The army said the evacuation became complicated and prolonged, and additional rescue forces were called.

According to Israeli army data, the number of soldiers killed since the start of the Gaza war on Oct. 7, 2023 has risen to 888, including 444 who were killed during ground invasion, which began on Oct. 27, 2023.

​​​​​​​At least 6,060 soldiers have also been injured, including 2,768 in ground battles.

Abu Obaida, spokesman for Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Palestinian group Hamas, said the “complex Beit Hanoun operation” carried out by fighters on Monday evening constitutes "an additional blow to the fragile prestige of the Israeli army," threatening to "capture more soldiers" later.

"Although (the Israeli army) recently miraculously succeeded in rescuing its soldiers from hell, it may fail to do so later, resulting in additional prisoners in our hands,” the spokesman added.

He said “the steadfastness of the Palestinians and the valiance of the resistance are shaping the contours of the next phase,” adding that the "most foolish decision that (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu can make would be to keep his forces inside" the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli army has killed more than 57,500 Palestinians, most of them women and children, in Gaza since October 2023. The relentless bombardment has rendered the enclave uninhabitable, and led to food shortages and spread of disease.