UPDATE – 13 Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza battles: State broadcasting authority

UPDATES WITH ONE MORE SOLDIER KILLED

By Abdel Raouf Arnaout

JERUSALEM (AA) - The number of Israeli soldiers killed in the ongoing ground battles inside the Gaza Strip has risen to 13, bringing the total number of troops killed since the outbreak of the current conflict last month to 328, state media reported.

On Wednesday, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported the killing of another soldier following the Israeli army's announcement of the deaths of nine soldiers during battles overnight in Gaza.

It was later clarified that the Israeli army had declared the killing of three more Israeli soldiers in the Gaza battles on Tuesday evening, bringing the total number of soldiers killed in Gaza since Tuesday to 13.

In a press conference on Wednesday, the Israeli army's spokesperson, Daniel Hagari, described the losses suffered by the Israeli military as "painful."

Since Tuesday, the Israeli army has issued multiple statements reporting intense battles inside the Gaza Strip following incursions from various directions.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala