Five Israeli soldiers were killed and 14 wounded Monday night by roadside bombs during a ground operation in Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza, the military announced Tuesday.
According to an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) investigation, three explosive devices were remotely detonated in sequence as troops patrolled on foot. After the blast, a nearby Hamas cell opened fire on the Israeli troops.
Following the attack, the IDF deployed drones, helicopters, and fighter jets to prevent any attempted abductions by Hamas. The military said the incident was under control within an hour and a half.
The fallen soldiers were identified as Staff Sgt. Meir Shimon Amar, Sgt. Moshe Nissim Frech, Staff Sgt. Noam Aharon Musgadian, and Staff Sgt. Moshe Shmuel Noll—all members of the Netzah Yehuda Battalion—and Sgt. First Class (res.) Benyamin Asulin of the Northern Brigade.
The deaths came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington to discuss a proposed ceasefire in Gaza.
The U.S. has put forward a proposal for a 60-day truce, during which Hamas would release 10 surviving hostages taken on October 7, 2023, along with several bodies, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Hamas, however, has so far refused to agree to another ceasefire, insisting that Israel commit to a permanent end to the war.
Israeli Minister Zeev Elkin said there was “substantial chance” of reaching an agreement. “Hamas wants to change a few central matters, it’s not simple, but there is progress,” Elkin told Israel’s public broadcaster Kan.
Meanwhile, Qatar, which is mediating the talks, said more time is needed to finalize a deal. “I don’t think that I can give any timeline at the moment, but I can say right now that we will need time for this,” a foreign ministry spokesman said.
Since the war began in October 2023, 449 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza, according to the military, which also estimates Hamas casualties at over 21,000 fighters.
The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reports that over 57,000 people have been killed or are presumed dead in the conflict. The figure, which cannot be independently verified, does not differentiate between civilians and fighters.
On Tuesday alone, the ministry said 51 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes.
