By Yakut Dandashi
ISTANBUL (AA) - An Israeli soldier held in Gaza was killed in a clash with the Israeli military when it tried to set him free, the armed wing of Hamas said on Friday.
The Israeli army’s attempt to reach the captured soldier led to his death and the killing and wounding of a number of Israeli soldiers, the Al-Qassam Brigades said in a statement.
“A special Israeli force was found trying to advance to set free an enemy prisoner,” it said, adding: “Clashes with the Israeli forces led to the killing of the captured soldier Sa'ar Baruch, 25, carrying ID number 207775032.”
A rifle and a communication device were also seized from the “enemy forces,” the statement said.
“Israeli warplanes intervened and bombed the place with a series of raids to cover their withdrawal,” it added.
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli army on the development.
Israel resumed its military offensive against the Gaza Strip on Dec. 1 after the end of a weeklong humanitarian pause with the Palestinian group, Hamas.
At least 17,177 Palestinians have been killed and more than 46,000 others injured in relentless air and ground attacks on the enclave since Oct. 7 following a cross-border attack by Hamas.
The Israeli death toll in the Hamas attack stood at 1,200, according to official figures.
* Writing by Ikram Kouachi