JERUSALEM: Five Israeli soldiers were killed in combat in the Gaza Strip, the military said on Tuesday, in one of the deadliest days for Israeli forces in the Palestinian territory this year.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lamented a “difficult morning” as he visited Washington for talks with US President Donald Trump, who is pressing for a ceasefire in the more than 21-month war.

“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,” Netanyahu posted on X.

The Israeli military said the five soldiers, aged between 20 and 28, “fell during combat in the northern Gaza Strip”.

Two others were severely wounded and “evacuated to a hospital to receive medical treatment”, it said, adding their families had been notified.

“The investigation indicates that the force was hit by three (improvised explosive devices) that were activated within a matter of minutes,” military spokesman Effie Defrin said.

A force that was deployed to rescue the troops, “encountered fire that opened towards it, wounding some of the fighters”, Defrin added.

He said Israeli troops were now “surrounding the Beit Hanoun area from all directions, above and below ground,” and that dozens of fighters were located there.

Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2025