402 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the start of military operations in the enclave [Photo by Mostafa Alkharouf/Anadolu via Getty Images]
Four Israeli soldiers were killed in an ambush in northern Gaza on Saturday as Israel continues its assault on the enclave.
The four, three of whom were combat soldiers in the 931st brigade and a truck driver in the 79th brigade, were killed when an explosive device detonated near a vehicle in Beit Hanoun, an Israeli army statement confirmed.
Six other soldiers were injured in the same incident, including two marked as seriously wounded.
According to the Times of Israel, the deaths mark 402 Israeli soldiers killed since the start of its military offensive into Gaza, with 48 soldiers being killed in operations in ongoing operations in northern Gaza.
The ambush in Beit Hanoun follows a similar incident on Wednesday that killed three soldiers in the same area, which saw an explosive device detonate against a tank.
Two days earlier, separate incidents saw three soldiers killed with several others wounded in separate incidents.
According to Haaretz, the military says that Hamas has shifted to relying on ambushes with explosive devices, and that some are made using unexploded ordnance from Israeli munitions that were dropped on the territory.
Israel’s assault on northern Gaza comes amid continued ceasefire and prisoner swap talks in Doha, with reports noting that a deal is close to being completed.
Around 98 Israeli captives are believed to be held in the enclave.
Israel’s war on Gaza, which has been ongoing since 7 October 2023, has killed 46,565 people and wounded a further 109,660.
