Eight Israeli soldiers, including their captain, died this Saturday in southern Loop in a large explosion during an operation in Rafah, as confirmed by the Army. This is the deadliest day for Israel since January, in the midst of its response against the attack of Hamas.
The captain was Wassem Mahmoud, 23 years old and from Beit Jann (in the north of Israel). He served as deputy commander of the 601st Engineering Battalion of the Israeli Army. “Seven other soldiers also fell in this incident. Their families have been notified,” a military statement said.
According to local media, the soldiers died in the explosion of their vehicle near the city of Rafah, in the south of the Palestinian territory. The army confirmed that they lost their lives due to the explosion of a Namer armored personnel carrier.
Now, the investigation is trying to clarify if someone placed an explosive device in the vehicle or if a device carried by Israeli forces failed.
It is the deadliest day for the Israeli Army since January 22, when 21 soldiers died when two buildings collapsed on them in the deadliest incident since Israel launched the ground operation in the enclave.
From Hamas They claimed the attack as “an ambush against enemy vehicles.” In this regard, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that the offensive to defeat the Palestinian extremist group must continue, since “there is no alternative to victory.”
