The Israeli army has disclosed that 21 of its troops have been killed in Gaza, the bloodiest day for Israeli forces since the start of their offensive assault.
Daniel Hagari, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), said a rocket-propelled grenade hit a tank near two buildings where they were.
He added that the structures detonated, most likely as a result of mines planted by Israeli soldiers to demolish them.
The IDF says it is still investigating the details of the incident.
Mr. Hagari claimed the incident occurred in central Gaza, near the kibbutz of Kissufim on the Israeli side of the border, at 16:00 (14:00 GMT) on Monday.
He stated that the soldiers, most of whom were reservists, were involved in an operation to assist residents of southern Israel to safely return home after tens of thousands were evacuated following the Hamas attack on October 7.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said it had been an “unbearably difficult morning” learning of the casualty toll.
“On behalf of the entire nation, I console the families and pray for the healing of the wounded,” he said.
Israel launched the war with the stated goal of eliminating Hamas after waves of its gunmen killed 1,300 Palestinians, largely civilians, and kidnapped approximately 250 others in an unprecedented offensive.
According to the Hamas-run health ministry, at least 25,295 individuals have died in Israel’s military campaign in Gaza since then; the majority of them are women and children.
