Tel Aviv, Israel, Jul 8 (AP) - Five Israeli soldiers have been killed in an attack in Gaza, according to the Israeli military on Tuesday. Meanwhile, health officials in the Palestinian territory reported 18 deaths due to Israeli strikes.
The violence occurred as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the White House for discussions with US President Donald Trump about a ceasefire plan aimed at pausing the Gaza conflict. While there has been no official announcement of a breakthrough, indications suggest progress toward a potential agreement.
The deaths of the soldiers could increase the pressure on Netanyahu to negotiate a deal, as polls in Israel demonstrate a broad desire to end the conflict. An Israeli security official revealed that explosive devices were activated against the soldiers during an operation in the Beit Hanoun area in northern Gaza, a location frequently contested in the ongoing war. Militants also fired upon the forces who were tending to the wounded soldiers, according to the official, who spoke anonymously as they were not authorized to discuss the incident with the media.
The military confirmed that 14 soldiers were injured in the attack, with two suffering serious injuries. This attack elevates the number of soldiers killed to 888 since the conflict against Hamas commenced in 2023. The soldiers perished roughly two weeks following one of the deadliest days for Israel in recent months, when a Palestinian attacker attached a bomb to an Israeli armored vehicle, resulting in the deaths of seven soldiers.
Netanyahu expressed condolences for the fallen soldiers, stating they fell "in a campaign to defeat Hamas and to free all of our hostages." Health officials from Nasser Hospital, where victims of the strikes were taken, reported that one strike hit tents sheltering displaced individuals in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, killing four people. Another strike in Khan Younis killed four more, including a family of four.
In central Gaza, Israeli strikes targeted a group of people, resulting in 10 deaths and 72 injuries, according to Awda Hospital in Nuseirat. The Israeli military has not immediately commented on these strikes but typically blames Hamas for civilian casualties, alleging that the group operates within populated areas.
The ongoing conflict is bringing Gaza’s healthcare system to the brink of collapse. The Palestine Red Crescent announced on Tuesday that the Al-Zaytoun Medical Clinic in Gaza City had to cease operations due to nearby shelling, leaving thousands with limited access to medical care.
President Trump has made it clear that following the 12-day war last month between Israel and Iran, he is eager for the 21-month Gaza conflict to conclude swiftly. Netanyahu's visit to Washington is seen as adding urgency to the ceasefire negotiations.
White House officials are pressing for both parties to agree quickly to a proposal involving a 60-day ceasefire, which would facilitate the inflow of aid to Gaza and potentially secure the release of at least some of the remaining 50 hostages, 20 of whom are believed to be alive.
A senior Israeli official mentioned that 80-90% of the issues have been resolved, with a final agreement seemingly days away. However, the official spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the negotiations.
A major issue remains whether the ceasefire will mark the end of the war. Hamas has expressed willingness to release all hostages in exchange for an end to the conflict and a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Conversely, Netanyahu asserts that the war will conclude only when Hamas surrenders, disarms, and goes into exile, conditions Hamas refuses to meet.
The war began when Hamas launched an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the taking of 251 hostages. While most hostages have been released in previous ceasefires, Israel’s retaliatory offensive has led to over 57,000 Palestinian deaths, with more than half being women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. This ministry, operating under Hamas's governance, does not segregate data between civilian and combatant casualties, but the UN and other international organizations consider its statistics reliable. (AP) RD RD
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