Seven Israeli soldiers killed during combat in Gaza, military says
CAIRO: The Israeli military said seven personnel, an officer and six soldiers, were killed in fighting in the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday.
In a separate incident, a soldier was severely wounded also in southern Gaza, the military added in a statement on Wednesday.
Israeli media reported the seven were in the city of Khan Younis when an explosive device planted on their vehicle detonated, setting it on fire.
Gaza rescuers say Israeli forces killed 21 people waiting for aid
The war in Gaza was triggered when Hamas-led attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
Israel's subsequent air and ground war in Gaza has killed more than 56,000 Palestinians, according to its Hamas-run health ministry, while displacing almost the entire population of more than 2 million and spreading a hunger crisis.
According to the military's tallies, 19 soldiers have been killed since the beginning of June during combat in the strip.
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Why won't they engage Congress in the critical details?' I have just confirmed with the White House that the classified bipartisan briefing for all House Members will now be held on Friday. Senior Administration officials will present the latest information pertaining to the situation involving Israel and Iran. Details to follow. — Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) June 24, 2025 Qatar's reaction Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani confirmed Doha's role in helping mediate the ceasefire at the US's request. While welcoming the truce, he expressed concern over early violations and emphasized that diplomacy must prevail. He also called for progress in parallel talks for a ceasefire in Gaza, which Qatar and Egypt are jointly mediating. Egypt and Jordan's reaction Egypt's Foreign Ministry said the ceasefire 'could represent a turning point' in reducing regional tensions. Jordan echoed that sentiment, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sufyan Qudah urging all sides to prevent further escalation and shift focus to achieving a Gaza ceasefire as well. Lebanon's reaction Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Abdallah Salim Salam expressed relief that Lebanon avoided being drawn into the conflict between Israel and Iran. Saudi Arabia's reaction Riyadh issued a formal statement supporting Trump's ceasefire announcement, stating it welcomed the agreement reached between Israel and Iran. Russia's reaction Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow welcomed the ceasefire but warned it was too early to judge its sustainability. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed hope for a 'sustainable ceasefire,' according to Al Jazeera. China's call for dialogue Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reaffirmed support for Iran's sovereignty and urged all sides to pursue a 'real ceasefire' and equal dialogue. In talks with his Iranian counterpart, he reiterated Beijing's backing for diplomatic solutions, Al Jazeera reported. European Union reaction European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed cautious optimism and said the ceasefire was an 'important step' towards regional stability. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas added on X that the truce was 'good news but remains fragile,' urging all sides to refrain from further violence. France and Germany's reaction France called on Iran to return to negotiations addressing its nuclear and ballistic programs, while Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed the ceasefire and thanked regional mediators like Qatar. He noted that the truce, if it holds, 'will make the Middle East and the world safer.' Airspace reopens across region Following the ceasefire, airspace restrictions have been lifted across several countries, including Qatar, Iraq, Oman, the UAE, and Syria, marking a cautious return to normalcy after nearly two weeks of heightened military alert.
