Israeli leaders lament deadly incident of soldiers killing in Gaza

By Abdelraouf Arnaout

JERUSALEM (AA) - Israeli leaders on Tuesday described the incident that left 21 Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza as "painful and difficult to Israel."

Early on Tuesday, the Israeli army admitted the killing of 21 soldiers on Monday evening in an incident caused by the Hamas fighters in central Gaza.

"An unbearable difficult morning, in which more and more names of the best of our sons are added to the gravestones of heroes," Israeli President Isaac Herzog wrote on X.

"The intense battles are taking place in an extremely challenging space, and we send strength to the soldiers of the IDF and the security forces, who are working with endless determination to realize the goals of the fighting," he also added.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also described the incident as "difficult and painful morning."

"Our hearts are with the dear families in their most difficult time," Gallant said, stressing that the war will continue, claiming it "will determine the future of Israel for decades to come."

Benny Gantz, member of Israel's current war council, extended "heartfelt condolences to the families of the fallen."

Meanwhile, hardline National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir described the incident as "difficult and painful," adding that the incident is "clearer than ever" that Israel must continue war in Gaza.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also mourned the soldiers and stressed continuation of the war on Gaza.

The deaths bring the death toll of Israeli soldiers in Gaza since a ground assault began on Oct. 27 to 219, while the army's overall death toll since the launch of the Israeli offensive against Gaza on Oct. 7 has risen to 556.

Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas on Oct. 7, killing at least 25,295 Palestinians and injuring 63,000. Nearly 1,200 Israelis are believed to have been killed in the Hamas attack.

The Israeli offensive has left 85% of Gaza’s population internally displaced amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar