Israeli soldier injured by Gaza sniper

By Zein Khalil

JERUSALEM (AA) - The son of a former Israeli minister was wounded by a Palestinian sniper in northern Gaza, Israeli media reported Sunday.

“Lieutenant Colonel Itamar Eitam, a major in the Bislamach Brigade, was moderately injured on Saturday during a clash in Jabalia,” said the army radio.

He is the son of former Israeli Housing Minister Efraim Eitam.

With the latest casualty, at least 3,591 Israeli soldiers have been injured since the start of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7.

According to Israeli military figures, at least 634 soldiers have been killed since Oct. 7.

On May 12, the Israeli army initiated a ground operation in Jabalia camp and surrounding areas, later expanding the offensive on May 15 following what it described as "intense battles" faced by its forces.

- Israeli soldier captured

Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, announced earlier on Sunday that it captured Israeli soldiers during an operation in the northern Gaza Strip.

But Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee denied the claim on X.

This is the first time the resistance forces have announced the capture of an Israeli soldier since Israel began a ground incursion into Gaza on Oct. 27.

Israel continues its brutal offensive on Gaza despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire.

More than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, the vast majority being women and children, and over 80,600 others injured since October following an attack by Hamas.

Over seven months into the Israeli war, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel is accused of “genocide” at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which in its latest ruling has ordered Tel Aviv to immediately halt its operation in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza where more than a million displaced Palestinians had sought refuge.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi