Three soldiers lost their lives, and several others were injured in a deadly strike, prompting a military response
Three Israeli soldiers were killed and several others wounded in a targeted rocket attack claimed by Hamas near the Gaza Strip on Sunday. The incident has intensified tensions in the region and led to the closure of a key border crossing by the Israeli military.
The slain soldiers were identified as Staff Sgt. Ruben Marc Mordechai Assouline, 19, from Ra’anana, Staff Sgt. Ido Testa, 19, from Jerusalem, and Staff Sgt. Tal Shavit, 21, from Kfar Giladi. They were members of the Givati Brigade’s Shaked Battalion and the Nahal Brigade’s 931st Battalion.
The attack, which took place in the vicinity of the southern community of Kerem Shalom, resulted in the deaths of three soldiers and left 11 others injured. Among the wounded, two soldiers from the 931st Battalion and one from the Shaked Battalion were listed in serious condition, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Hamas, the militant group controlling the Gaza Strip, claimed responsibility for launching more than 10 rockets from the Rafah area in southern Gaza. The rockets targeted a gathering of Israeli troops stationed near the border. Most of the rockets struck an area where troops were assembled, close to the Kerem Shalom border crossing.
The soldiers were reportedly guarding military equipment in preparation for an IDF offensive in Rafah when the attack occurred. Emergency services responded swiftly, transporting the casualties to hospitals for treatment. One soldier was airlifted due to the severity of their injuries.
The IDF has initiated an investigation into why the Iron Dome air defense system failed to engage the incoming rockets. Sirens blared in Kerem Shalom during the attack, and one rocket hit a residential home in the community. Nearby towns have largely evacuated civilians since the escalation of hostilities initiated by Hamas on October 7.
The closure of the Kerem Shalom border crossing, a crucial conduit for humanitarian aid into Gaza, underscores the gravity of the situation. Thousands of truckloads of aid have been transported through the crossing amid the ongoing conflict.
The deadly attack on Israeli soldiers marks a significant escalation in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, with both sides exchanging fire despite international calls for a ceasefire. The latest casualties bring the toll of Israeli troops killed in the ground offensive against Hamas to 266, highlighting the ongoing violence and instability in the region.
The Israeli government has vowed to retaliate against Hamas for the attack, further exacerbating tensions and raising concerns about the prospects for peace in the region.