Tel aviv: Five Israeli soldiers were killed and 14 others injured in battles in the northern Gaza Strip.The soldiers from the Netzah Yehuda Battalion of the Kfir Brigade, were engaged in ground operations in the town of Beit Hanoun on Monday evening when the incident occurred.

According to Anadolu Agency, Israeli Army Radio detailed that the soldiers were hit by a roadside bomb shortly after 10 p.m. (1900GMT) as they conducted foot patrols. The explosion was followed by an ambush from armed militants, complicating rescue efforts and resulting in additional casualties. The situation necessitated the call for more rescue forces due to the complexity and duration of the evacuation.

The incident has raised the number of Israeli soldiers killed since the onset of the Gaza war on October 7, 2023, to 888, with 444 of those deaths occurring since the ground invasion began on October 27, 2023. Additionally, at least 6,060 soldiers have been injured, including 2,768 in ground battles, according to Israeli army data.

In response to the attack, Abu Obaida, spokesman for Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Palestinian group Hamas, described the operation as a "complex Beit Hanoun operation" and an additional blow to the Israeli army's prestige. He warned of potential future captures of Israeli soldiers and criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to maintain forces in Gaza.

The ongoing conflict has led to significant Palestinian casualties, with more than 57,500 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, reported killed by the Israeli army's operations in Gaza since October 2023. The sustained bombardment has severely affected the region, causing food shortages and the spread of disease, rendering the enclave uninhabitable.