1 more Israeli soldier killed in fighting in southern Gaza Strip

By Ahmed Asmar

ANKARA (AA) — The Israeli army on Wednesday announced that another of its soldier was killed in fighting in the southern Gaza Strip.

In a statement, the army identified the killed soldier as Staff Sgt. Amit Friedman, 19, of its Nahal Brigade's 932nd Battalion.

Friedman's death brings the number of Israeli soldiers killed since the start of the Israeli ground operation in Gaza on Oct. 27 to 341, while the army's total deaths since the launch of the Israeli onslaught against Gaza on Oct. 7 jumps to 703.

Israel has continued its offensive on Gaza following a Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire.

The onslaught has resulted in nearly 40,500 Palestinian deaths, mostly women and children, and over 93,000 injuries, according to local health authorities.

The ongoing blockade of Gaza has led to severe shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, leaving much of the region in ruins.

Israel faces accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which has ordered a halt to military operations in the southern city of Rafah, where over one million Palestinians had sought refuge before the area was invaded on May 6.