Israeli army confirms 17 soldiers killed in Gaza ground operations

Israel has ramped up air and ground attacks in besieged Palestinian enclave

The Israeli army confirmed on Thursday that 17 of its soldiers have so far been killed in Gaza, where it recently ramped up air and ground attacks.

It said in a statement that two soldiers succumbed to the wounds they sustained during ground operations, pushing up the death toll.​​​​​​​

Clashes and direct confrontations between the Israeli army and fighters of Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Palestinian group Hamas which carried out a surprise cross border attack in Israel on Oct. 7, have escalated, particularly at the Erez crossing, the border point between northern Gaza and Israel, since Tuesday.