Gaza bombing kills 7 Israeli troops; dozens of Palestinians dead in attacks
Attack on troops in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis marks one of the Israeli military’s deadliest days amid escalating violence
Israel on Wednesday reported one of its deadliest days in Gaza in months as its military said seven soldiers were killed when a Palestinian attacker attached a bomb to their armoured vehicle, while health officials in the battered enclave said Israeli attacks killed 79 people over the past day.
The attack on the Israeli troops, which occurred on Tuesday, quickly drew the nation’s attention back to the grinding conflict with the Hamas militant group after nearly two weeks of war between Israel and Iran.
Among the 79 reported killed in Gaza were 33 people who died while trying to access aid. Palestinian witnesses and health officials say Israeli forces have repeatedly opened fire on crowds heading toward desperately needed food, killing hundreds in recent weeks. The military says it has fired warning shots at people it said approached its forces in a suspicious manner.
Israel has been fighting in Gaza since the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. US-led ceasefire efforts have repeatedly stalled.
Brigadier General Effie Defrin, the army’s chief spokesman, said the soldiers were attacked in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, where the army has operated on and off throughout much of the war.