The Israeli military announced the death of four soldiers, including an officer, from an explosion in a booby-trapped house in Jabalia, reports Al Jazeera.
The soldiers reportedly died on early Tuesday when they were encircling Jabalia.
The Israeli army has been encircling Jabalia, Beit Lahiya and the rest of northern Gaza for over 23 days and they have suffered casualties during that period.
The (Israeli Defence Force) IDF named the slain soldiers as Cpt. Yehonatan Joni Keren, 22, from Moledet; Staff Sgt. Nisim Meytal, 20, from Hadera; Staff Sgt. Aviv Gilboa, 21, from Neve Tzuf and Staff Sgt. Naor Haimov, 22, from Rosh Ha’ayin.
Also, the Israeli military announced the death of a soldier who died from wounds sustained on the northern front, in battles in southern Lebanon.
These numbers continue to rise and over 600 have been killed in Gaza since the beginning of the ground offensive, and over 900 soldiers injured just in the recent past period of the assault on Lebanon.
This all comes at a time when the Israeli Knesset is discussing a new conscription law. The Israeli right-wing coalition is fighting to stay together as they try to get as many votes as they can for a law that would still exempt religious youth from [being drafted] into military service.
This is a very controversial bill in Israel and it had threatened to unravel the government.
Bd-Pratidin English/ Afsar Munna
