Israeli Military Suffers Highest Single-Day Casualty Toll in Gaza

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n a significant escalation of the ongoing genocide in Gaza, the Israeli military reported its highest single-day casualty toll on Tuesday, with 24 soldiers killed in the Gaza Strip. This grim milestone comes as Israel intensifies its ground assault on the Palestinian enclave.

According to Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the majority of casualties, 21 soldiers, occurred when two buildings, previously mined for demolition, collapsed after Hamas fighters fired grenades at a nearby tank. In a separate attack in southern Gaza, three soldiers lost their lives. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed the gravity of the situation, stating, “Yesterday we experienced one of our most difficult days since the war erupted.”

The increased casualties coincide with Israel’s largest ground campaign of the new year, pushing deep into the western part of Khan Younis, a major city in southern Gaza. This area is densely populated, housing hundreds of thousands of people who have fled other parts of the enclave.

Long-term implications of the military campaign

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant emphasized the strategic importance of the ongoing conflict, stating, “The fall of the fighters is a requirement to achieve the goals of the war,” hinting at the long-term implications of the military campaign.

Gazans have reported that Israeli blockades and the storming of hospitals have left the wounded and dead beyond the reach of rescuers. The Israeli military’s actions have significantly hindered the humanitarian response, exacerbating the dire situation in the densely populated city.

Burials of the deceased civilians have been conducted within the grounds of Khan Younis’s main Nasser hospital due to the unsafe conditions of reaching the cemetery. Reports indicate that another hospital, Al-Khair, was stormed by Israeli troops who arrested staff, while a third, Al-Amal, where Red Crescent rescuers are based, became cut off and unreachable.

Israel contends that Hamas fighters operate in and around hospitals, justifying these locations as legitimate military targets. However, hospital staff and Hamas deny these allegations.

25,000 Gazans killed

The genocide, which started when Hamas fighters crossed into Israel, has taken a heavy toll on the Palestinian side. Israel has pledged to eliminate Hamas, the Palestinian movement governing Gaza, while Gaza has faced significant devastation. Palestinian authorities report over 25,000 Gazans killed, with the majority losing their homes and living in dire conditions.

Israel’s military campaign faces growing discontent domestically, with calls for a reassessment of the strategy. Prime Minister Netanyahu, committed to the total annihilation of Hamas, faces criticism as public opinion questions the long-term vision for Gaza post-genocide. Former military chief-of-staff Gadi Eisenkot, a member of Netanyahu’s war cabinet, has advocated for swift elections, citing a loss of public confidence in the current government.

The conflict’s ripple effects have also been felt across the Middle East, with an uptick in violence in regions. The Houthi movement, which controls significant parts of Yemen, has attacked shipping in the Red Sea in support of Gaza. This has triggered responses from the United States and Britain, who conducted air strikes overnight in Yemen.

As the genocide in Gaza intensifies, concerns grow over its regional ramifications and the human cost, raising questions about the path to a sustainable resolution and the broader implications for Middle East stability.

Source: Reuters