Five Israeli Soldiers Killed in Intense Gaza Fighting, Highest Casualty Day This Year

The Israeli military confirmed on Tuesday that five soldiers, aged between 20 and 28, were killed during heavy combat operations in northern Gaza, marking one of the deadliest days for Israeli forces in the region this year. Two additional soldiers were seriously wounded and are receiving medical treatment. The families of the fallen soldiers have been notified, the military said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, currently in Washington for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, expressed his condolences and resolve on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “All of Israel bows its head and mourns the fall of our heroic soldiers, who risked their lives in the battle to defeat Hamas and free all our hostages.”

Military sources indicate the casualties occurred in Beit Hanun when soldiers encountered a series of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The situation worsened as troops attempting to evacuate the wounded came under enemy fire.

President Isaac Herzog also mourned the losses on X, highlighting that most of the fallen belonged to the ultra-Orthodox ‘Netzach Yehuda’ battalion. Opposition leader Yair Lapid called for an end to the conflict, emphasizing the toll on fighters, families, hostages, and the nation.

Since the conflict began, Israeli military deaths have reached at least 445, according to official counts.

Diplomatic efforts persist, with indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas resuming in Doha last Sunday, though no major breakthroughs have emerged. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to join the talks this week to push for a ceasefire.

A U.S.-supported proposal reportedly includes a 60-day truce, with Hamas agreeing to release 10 hostages and several bodies in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Hamas demands Israeli withdrawal guarantees, a halt to hostilities during negotiations, and the reinstatement of UN-led aid distribution in Gaza.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens. Since Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, which killed 1,219 Israelis, Israeli military operations have resulted in over 57,500 deaths in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to Hamas-run health authorities—a figure the United Nations considers credible.