Eight Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza in one of the deadliest single incidents for

Israeli forces since October 7

By Lauren Izso and Ibrahim Dahman, CNN
4 minute read
Updated 3:14 PM EDT, Sat June 15, 2024

A view of the collapsed buildings from the border near the city of Rafah as Israeli
attacks on Gaza and the movement of Israeli army along the border continue on May
30, 2024 in Israel.
A view of the collapsed buildings from the border near the city of Rafah as Israeli
attacks on Gaza and the movement of Israeli army along the border continue on May
30, 2024 in Israel.
8 IDF soldiers killed in Gaza strike. Here's what we know
01:31
jomana overwrite
CNN reporter breaks down inquiry accusing Israel, Palestinian militants of war
crimes
03:10
hostage rescue israel digvid
Video shows inside Israel’s deadly operation that rescued four hostages
03:15
still_20696424_172977.702_still.jpg
Video shows deadly impact of Israel’s rescue operation in Gaza
02:55
still_20694304_459331.384_still.jpg
‘It is hell on earth’: Civilian describes scene in Gaza following Israeli hostage
rescue
03:02
thumbnailmp40.jpg
Watch freed Israeli hostage reunite with family
00:39
Israeli hostage release
Video shows moment Israeli hostages exit helicopter after being rescued
02:27
still_20688072_458869_still.jpeg
Boy gathers pieces of his brother's remains after Israeli bomb blasted school
02:46
first responders school gaza vpx
See chaotic scenes after Israel strikes Gaza school housing displaced civilians
01:32
building destruction bashir pkg jabalya
'Utter horror': See scenes in Gaza camp after Israeli attack
02:56
Jabalya Gaza damage strike aftermath May 26 2024 SCREENGRAB
Video shows aftermath of Israeli strike on Gaza neighborhood
01:14
Rafah Airstrike Gaza Aftermath May 25 2024 SCREENGRAB
Video shows fire and wreckage at site of Israeli airstrike in Rafah
02:18
rafah diamond camp vpx digvid
Graphic video shows scale of devastation in Rafah
02:44
Fareed
'Looks grim': Fareed gives his take on Israel
04:42
Benjamin Netanyahu Israel PM Lead SPLIT
Tapper asks Netanyahu if Israel could have done anything differently to prevent
innocent deaths. Hear his reply
00:55
Fareed Zakaria GPS 4 14
Fareed: Israeli military officials are turning on Netanyahu
05:00
Itshak Gelernter, Shani Louk Amit Bouskila SPLIT
3 hostages murdered by Hamas recovered by IDF
02:43
CNN
—
Eight Israeli soldiers were killed in southern Gaza on Saturday, the Israel Defense
Forces says, in one of the deadliest single incidents involving its troops since
October 7.

The IDF told CNN the incident was still under review but preliminary findings
suggested an armored vehicle carrying soldiers as part of a convoy had been hit by
an explosion at around 5.15 a.m. local time during an operation targeting
“terrorist infrastructure” in the northwestern part of Tal al-Sultan.

However, it’s unclear whether the blast was caused by an explosive device planted
in the area or by the ignition of explosives being carried by the armored vehicle –
or whether it was a mix of both.

“The current assessment is that the ‘Nemera’ armored vehicle got hit as a result of
an explosion of a side bomb. In addition, on the vehicle there were engineering
tools that include explosive materiel. The explosion was significant and may have
been caused by the ignition of the explosive materiel on the vehicle. All this is
not supposed to happen and therefore the incident is being examined,” the IDF said.

The Israeli military added the damage had been so great that it was difficult to
identify and locate the bodies of those killed.

Earlier, Al Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, said it had “carried out a
complex ambush against enemy vehicles” operating in Tal al-Sultan, which lies west
of the southern city of Rafah.

The militant group said it targeted a military bulldozer, which then caught on
fire, killing and wounding the crew. When rescue troops arrived, the militant group
then struck an armored personnel carrier, killing the soldiers.

Israel identified one of the dead soldiers as Captain Wassem Mahmoud, Deputy
Company Commander in the Engineering Battalion. The other seven names are yet to be
disclosed.

A ‘heartbreaking price’: Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a speech on Saturday, conveyed deep
sorrow over the “heartbreaking price” paid in the defense of Israel, describing the
enemy as “loathsome and murderous.”

“Despite the heavy and staggering cost, we must stick to the goals of the war:
destroying the military and governmental capabilities of Hamas, returning all our
abductees, making sure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel and
returning our residents safely to their homes – both in the north and in the
south,” Netanyahu said.

Israel’s foreign minister Israel Katz and national security minister Itamar Ben
Gvir also expressed sorrow, saying it had been “a difficult” and “painful” day.

“Eight of our best sons were killed in Rafah,” Katz said in a post on X. “While
knowing the price, they bravely entered Gaza to complete the mission of destroying
Hamas and freeing the hostages.”

Meanwhile Benny Gantz, who resigned from Israel’s war cabinet just days ago,
described the soldiers who died as “the beautiful faces of the people of Israel,
the best among us.”

“The heart is torn by hearing the hard news, we will never stop protecting our
country, and our society” Gantz added.

The incident comes as Israel continues its push into Rafah, where there have been
reports of air strikes and artillery shelling since dawn local time.

Ahmed Radwan, the media officer of Rafah Civil Defense, said they had received
appeals to collect bodies and the injured but it was difficult for civil defense
crews to access the area.

Some of the fiercest fighting of recent days has been seen in Tal al-Sultan.

Hamas on Friday said its fighters targeted Israeli tanks in the neighborhood with
Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) and mortars, while the IDF said it found tunnels
between neighboring houses used by militants as passageways.

Elsewhere, at least 14 people were killed, including seven children, in Israeli

strikes on central Gaza, the Civil Defense Directorate in Gaza said.

In total, 30 people have been killed and 95 injured in the Gaza Strip over the past
24 hours, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza.

The conflict in Gaza began after the Hamas attacks of October 7, which killed
around 1,200 people. Since then at least 37,296 people have been killed in Israel’s
offensive in Gaza, according to the latest figures from the Ministry of Health in
Gaza.

This is a developing story and will be updated.