Four Israeli soldiers were killed in a bomb blast in northern Gaza, Palestine. Six more soldiers were injured in the incident. The Times of Israel reported this in a report on Saturday (January 11). The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said that the number of Israeli soldiers killed in the ground operation against Hamas has now reached 402.
The four soldiers killed were Sergeant Major (Reserve) Alexander Fedorenko (37), Staff Sergeant Danila Diakov (21), Sergeant Yahav Mayan (19), and Sergeant Eliav Astukar (19). Two of the six injured are reported to be in critical conditionThe IDF said in a preliminary investigation that patrolling Sens in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza, were targeted with explosive devices. Hamas gunmen were active there before and fired on Israeli troops at that time. Since last October, the new focus of Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip is in the northern part. Whereas the IDF has recently intensified its operations against Hamas. After Jabalia and Beit Lahiya areas, Israeli forces are currently conducting operations in Beit Hanoun area.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paid tribute to the dead soldiers on social media and wrote, “They (soldiers) gave their lives to protect the motherland for our existence and security in the war in the northern Gaza Strip. Their bravery and bravery will forever be etched in our hearts.
Earlier on Wednesday, three Israeli soldiers were killed in the fighting with Hamas in northern Gaza. During the operation in Beit Hanoun, Hamas attacked army tanks using explosive devices. In total, Israel saw the second round of casualties in just one week.
According to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, more than 46,000 people have been killed and about 110,000 injured in the conflict so far in the Gaza Strip. However, research in the medical journal Lancet suggests that the number of casualties in Gaza has been underestimated. The actual number is at least 40 percent higher than the current number.
Israel says it has killed about 18,000 Hamas fighters as of November and another 1,000 inside Israel on October 7.
Israel claims it is trying to minimize civilian casualties and that Hamas is using Gazan civilians as human shields, fighting in civilian areas such as homes, hospitals, schools and mosques. Various sources have reported that the pace of negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza has increased recently. Netanyahu said last Saturday that top negotiators are being sent to Qatar to achieve progress.