The Israeli army suffered a devastating blow on Monday when 21 soldiers were killed in the Gaza Strip, marking the deadliest attack on its forces in the 3-month-old war against the militant Hamas group. The soldiers, who were reservists, were preparing explosives to demolish two buildings in central Gaza when a militant fired a rocket-propelled grenade at a nearby tank. The blast triggered the explosives, causing both buildings to collapse on the soldiers inside.
The heavy death toll has sparked calls for Israel to pause or halt the offensive altogether. Previous military operations have been halted due to large numbers of Israeli casualties, and the pressure is mounting on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take action. However, Netanyahu has vowed to press ahead until Hamas is crushed and over 100 hostages held captive in Gaza are freed. The Israeli public is divided on whether these goals are achievable.
Families of the hostages and their supporters are urging Israel to reach a ceasefire deal, as time is running out to bring their loved ones home alive. In a dramatic display of their desperation, dozens of hostages’ relatives stormed a parliamentary committee meeting on Monday, demanding a deal for their release.
Israel launched its offensive after a cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7th, which resulted in the death of over 1,200 people and the abduction of 250 others. In November, over 100 hostages were released in exchange for a weeklong ceasefire and the release of 240 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
The offensive has caused widespread destruction and displacement in Gaza. An estimated 85 percent of the population has been displaced, and over 25,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to health officials in the Hamas-run territory. The United Nations and international aid agencies have described the situation as a humanitarian disaster, with a quarter of the population facing starvation.
The war has also heightened tensions in the region, with Iran-backed groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen attacking US and Israeli targets in support of the Palestinians. In response, the US and Britain launched another wave of strikes against the Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have targeted international shipping in the Red Sea, claiming it is a blockade of Israel.
The attack that killed the soldiers took place near the border in Maghazi, one of the refugee camps in central Gaza dating back to the 1948 war surrounding Israel’s creation. Ground operations have been focused on the camps and the southern city of Khan Younis, after claiming victory over Hamas in northern Gaza.
Heavy fighting in Khan Younis on Monday resulted in dozens of Palestinian casualties. The city’s Nasser Hospital struggled to cope with the large number of wounded people, including children. Additionally, Gaza’s Internet and phone networks collapsed for the 10th time during the war, making it difficult for first responders and people to reach their loved ones.
Israel suspects that Hamas commanders may be hiding in vast tunnel complexes beneath Khan Younis. The group’s top leader in Gaza, Yehya Sinwar, is believed to be from this area, but his exact location is unknown. Hamas leaders are also suspected of using hostages as human shields, further complicating rescue efforts.
The growing death toll and dire humanitarian situation have increased international pressure on Israel to scale back the offensive and negotiate the creation of a Palestinian state after the war. However, Netanyahu has rejected these demands.
In conclusion, the Israeli army suffered a devastating loss with 21 soldiers killed in the Gaza Strip. The heavy death toll has intensified calls for Israel to pause or halt the offensive. Families of hostages are urging a ceasefire deal to secure their loved ones’ release. The offensive has caused widespread destruction and displacement in Gaza, leading to a humanitarian disaster. The war has also heightened tensions in the region, with Iran-backed groups attacking US and Israeli targets. Ground operations have focused on refugee camps and the city of Khan Younis. The collapse of Gaza’s Internet and phone networks has further complicated rescue efforts. International pressure is mounting on Israel to negotiate the creation of a Palestinian state, but Netanyahu has rejected these demands.