3 Israeli army majors killed in clashes with Palestinian fighters in northern Gaza

By Said Amori

JERUSALEM (AA) – Three Israeli army majors were killed in clashes with fighters from Palestinian resistance forces in northern Gaza, the army announced on Thursday.

The Israeli army said in a statement that three reservist officers were killed during clashes with Palestinian fighters in northern Gaza.

The three casualties were reserve officers with the rank of major from Logistical Support Unit 5460, which is part of the Israeli 460th Armored "Bnei Or" brigade, the statement said.

Two of the deceased were 32 years old, and the third was 37, it said, adding that "The names of three fallen soldiers whose families have been notified were cleared for publication."

According to the Yedioth Ahronoth daily, the three were killed in an explosive device blast in the northern Gazan neighborhood of Jabalia.

Military figures released by the army showed that 734 soldiers have so far been killed and 4,700 others injured since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict on Oct. 7, 2023.

Regional tensions have escalated due to Israel’s brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip, which has killed over 42,000 people, mostly women and children, following a Hamas attack last year.

The conflict spread to Lebanon with Israel launching deadly strikes across the country, which have killed more than 1,323 people and injured over 3,700 others since Sept. 23.

Despite international warnings that the Middle East region was on the brink of a regional war amid Israel’s relentless attacks on Gaza and Lebanon, Tel Aviv expanded the conflict by launching on Oct. 1 a ground invasion into southern Lebanon.