Two Israeli soldiers were killed in an explosion during combat operations in southern Gaza on Sunday, according to a statement released by the Israeli military. The soldiers, aged 20 and 22, were part of the Golani Infantry Brigade’s 51st Battalion and lost their lives after their armored vehicle was hit by a blast in the city of Khan Yunis.
Military officials indicated the explosion was likely triggered by an improvised explosive device (IED) allegedly planted and detonated by a militant who emerged from a tunnel in the area. An investigation into the incident is currently underway.
This latest loss brings the total number of Israeli military fatalities to 462 since the start of the ground offensive in Gaza on October 27, 2023.
Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, responded to the incident in a statement on social media platform X, saying:
“We have lost three young heroes, some of our finest, who gave their lives for the security of our state and the return of all our hostages.”
The announcement comes a day after the military confirmed the death of another Israeli soldier who had succumbed to wounds sustained during earlier fighting.
The broader conflict, which began following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault on southern Israel, continues to escalate. That attack claimed the lives of 1,219 people—most of them civilians—according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
In response, Israel launched a full-scale military operation in Gaza, which has led to widespread devastation. The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza now reports that 59,733 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed in the ongoing campaign.
As the death toll climbs on both sides, international pressure continues to mount for a ceasefire, with humanitarian concerns growing over the scale of destruction and loss of life in the region.
