## Israeli Army: We are Engaged with Hamas Inside the Tunnels and Have Lost Our Best Soldiers

Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari announced that Israeli soldiers are operating inside tunnels and engaging with Hamas members. He added in a press conference today, Thursday, that the cost of the war is high because many Israeli soldiers have fallen in battle. He also pointed out that there are significant Hamas strongholds in the Jabalia and Shuja'iyya areas of the Gaza Strip. Hagari stated that the army has lost many soldiers in the Gaza fighting. He emphasized, "We have lost many of our best sons in this war." He continued, "We are determined to dismantle Hamas, but the road is long," confirming the death of two soldiers, one in Jabalia and the other in Khan Younis. One of the fallen was the son of Gadi Eisenkot, the former Chief of Staff of the Israeli army and current member of the War Council, who was killed in a booby-trapped tunnel in Sheikh Zayed, Jabalia. The Israeli army spokesman confirmed the death of an Israeli in shelling by Hezbollah from Lebanon, clarifying that the Israeli army is "on high alert in the north and will respond to any terrorist operation."