Israeli media revealed on Tuesday the details of the incident that led to the deaths of 24 Israeli officers and soldiers in the Maghazi area in central Gaza. According to the details, reserve soldiers from Brigade 261 entered the Maghazi area based on a request from the Israeli army to work with an engineering unit to plant explosives in 10 buildings in preparation for detonation. As they were about to complete their mission, Hamas elements fired two RPGs; the first targeted a Merkava tank, injuring two soldiers, while the second was fired at the building planted with explosives, triggering the explosives and causing the collapse of two buildings with those inside. The rescue unit (669) worked throughout the night to lift debris in search of missing soldiers.
Israeli army spokesperson Avichai Adraee posted on his account on the platform "X" on Tuesday: "According to the information available at this stage, at around 16:00 yesterday, it appears that an RPG rocket was fired at a tank protecting the force that was operating in the central sector. At the same time, an explosion occurred in two two-story buildings, leading to their collapse while most of the force's members were inside and near them. The buildings apparently exploded due to the explosive devices planted by our forces in them. War comes with a painful and heavy price. The loyal reserve soldiers, who volunteered for the state and sacrificed the most precious thing they own for the security of Israel, so we can live here safely."
In related news, the Israeli army announced on Tuesday, "21 reservists were killed in battles in the Gaza Strip." The Israeli broadcasting agency reported, "10 Israeli officers and soldiers were killed in battles in southern Gaza." According to Sky News Arabia, "According to the army's account, engineering forces planted explosives in two buildings to destroy them as part of the army's work to create a separation strip within the sector along the border, and while the force was inside the buildings, it was subjected to RPG fire, which activated the explosives planted by the force and caused the buildings to collapse on the soldiers." The number of dead soldiers is not final and communication with the families of other soldiers is ongoing.
On Monday, the Israeli army revealed "the toll of its casualties in the ongoing battles in Gaza since the start of the ground operation at the end of October." An Israeli army spokesperson told Agence France-Presse that "the number of soldiers lost in Gaza since October 27 has reached 200." Since October 7, 2,665 Israeli soldiers have been injured, of whom 1,207 were injured in the ground operation in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to "eradicate" Hamas following the attacks it launched on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,140 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to a count by AFP based on official Israeli figures.
Admiral Daniel Hagari, an Israeli army spokesperson, stated that 21 soldiers were killed when a rocket struck a tank protecting Israeli forces. Simultaneously, an explosion occurred in two buildings where forces had planted explosives to destroy them, causing the buildings to collapse on the Israeli soldiers. Hagari said in a press conference early in the morning, "We are still studying and investigating the details of the incident and the causes of the explosion."
Israeli President Isaac Herzog issued a statement regarding what he described as "a difficult and unbearable morning," saying, "On behalf of the entire nation, I extend condolences to the families and pray for the recovery of the wounded. Even on this sad and difficult morning, we are strong and remember that together we will prevail." Israel continues to vow to eliminate Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip.
