Vehicles Carrying Israeli Troops Explode Midway in Gaza: 8 Soldiers Killed

In one of the deadliest incidents in recent months, eight Israeli soldiers were killed on Saturday after Hamas fighters launched a sophisticated ambush in the Tal as-Sultan district of Rafah, southern Gaza. 

This attack marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict, underscoring the fierce resistance faced by Israeli forces as they continue their ground invasion of the region.

According to the Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, the ambush involved firing Yassin-105 rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) at a D9 military bulldozer. 

This initial strike resulted in the deaths and injuries of multiple Israeli soldiers. 

The attack was part of a larger, coordinated effort that also targeted a subsequent rescue force vehicle, leading to its destruction and the loss of all occupants.

Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari confirmed the incident, stating that the soldiers “fell during operational activity in southern Gaza.” 

He emphasized that an investigation would be conducted to ascertain the details of how the ambush unfolded. 

“We’re working to disarm all the fighters to prevent Hamas from targeting civilians again like on October 7. Today, we received another reminder of the high price we are paying because of this war,” Hagari remarked in a televised statement.

Since the ground invasion of Gaza began on October 27, the conflict has claimed the lives of at least 307 Israeli troops, with thousands more wounded. 

On the Palestinian side, Gaza’s health ministry reports that at least 37,296 Palestinians, including many women, children, and the elderly, have died since the conflict escalated on October 7.

The attack on Saturday, which killed 19 Palestinians in Rafah, is expected to intensify calls for a ceasefire and exacerbate public anger in Israel. 

This incident follows a previous attack in January, where 21 Israeli soldiers were killed by Palestinian fighters in central Gaza.

Despite international condemnation and calls for an end to the hostilities, Israeli forces continue their operations, surrounding Rafah and conducting intensified air, sea, and artillery strikes on the Tal as-Sultan area. 

The situation has left hundreds of thousands of civilians in dire conditions, without access to food, water, and medical supplies.

Mohamad Elmasry, a professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, noted that Saturday’s attack underscores the elusive nature of Israel’s goal to destroy Hamas, as reported by Al Jazeera. 

He highlighted that about 70 percent of Hamas’s fighting force remains intact, with the group having successfully recruited thousands of new members.

Gideon Levy, a columnist for Haaretz, described the deaths of the eight soldiers as a “heavy price for Israeli society,” raising questions about the endgame of the conflict. 

Levy argued that the war risks becoming a prolonged battle of attrition, where Hamas can continually inflict damage, leading to a cycle of retaliation without achieving a definitive victory. 

“We’ll never achieve this ridiculous ‘total victory’ that Prime Minister Netanyahu speaks about,” Levy told Al Jazeera.

Efforts to broker a ceasefire have repeatedly failed, despite international pressure. 

Since a week-long truce in November, which saw the release of over 100 Israeli captives, Hamas has insisted on a permanent end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. 

Meanwhile, Netanyahu remains resolute in his stance to continue the invasion until Hamas is “eradicated.”

With more than 100 captives believed to remain in Gaza, many feared dead, the armed wing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, al-Quds Brigades, stated that Israel could only secure the release of its people by ending the war and withdrawing its troops from Gaza.

As the conflict continues, the world watches closely, hoping for a resolution that brings an end to the violence and suffering on both sides.