Tel Aviv: The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) reported on Thursday that three more of its soldiers had died in combat with Hamas in northern Gaza, bringing the total number of Israeli soldiers killed in the conflict to 137.
The deceased were identified as Sgt. Lavi Ghasi (19) from Hashmonaim, in the Nahal Brigade's 931st Battalion, Lt. Yaacov Eliat (20) from Ramat Gan, a cadet in the Bahad 1 officers school's Gefen Battalion who was previously a Givati squad commander and Lt. Omri Shwartz (21) from Shadmot Dvora, a cadet in the Gefen Battalion who was previously a soldier in the Paratrooper Brigade’s Reconnaissance Battalion.
The Israeli army also said that five more soldiers were seriously hurt in the fight in Gaza.
The injured -- two soldiers from the Nahal Brigade's 50th Battalion, one from the Oketz canine unit, an officer in the 460th Armored Brigade's 532nd Battalion, and a reserve soldier in the Kiryati Brigade's 9218th Battalion -- are admitted to the army hospital and are being treated.
The Israeli army is engaged in a tough battle with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
According to the Hamas-run health ministry, atleast19,667 Palestinians including women and children have been killed in Gaza and 1,200 civilians and soldiers have been killed in Israel since October 7.
With inputs from IANS