Israeli soldier severely wounded in southern Gaza fighting: Army

By Zein Khalil

JERUSALEM (AA) - An Israeli soldier on Monday was severely injured in fighting against Palestinians in the southern Gaza Strip, according to the Israeli army.

The army said in a statement that the soldier from the 8108th Battalion of the 679th Brigade was injured in southern Gaza and has been taken to a hospital for treatment.

The daily Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said the soldier was hit by an anti-tank rocket in Khan Younis, but did not provide further details.

Separately, the Hamas group's armed wing Al-Qassam Brigades said it ambushed a military convoy of tanks and bulldozers in the Al-Fukhari area, eastern Khan Younis, and left "the crews of the Zionist (Israeli) vehicles either dead or wounded."

The Al-Qassam noted that its fighters detected the landing of Israeli military helicopters in the area for an evacuation mission.

Israel has continued its brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip following an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas last October, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire.

Nearly 41,600 people have since been killed, mostly women and children, and over 96,200 others injured, according to local health authorities.

The Israeli onslaught has displaced almost the entire population of the territory amid an ongoing blockade that has led to severe shortages of food, clean water, and medicine.

Israel faces accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar