By AFP
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM: Five Israeli soldiers were killed in combat in the Gaza Strip, the military said Tuesday, in one of the deadliest days for Israeli forces in the Palestinian territory this year.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lamented a 鈥渄ifficult morning鈥 as he visited Washington for talks with US President Donald Trump, who is pressing for a ceasefire in the more than 21-month war.
鈥淎ll of Israel bows its head and mourns the fall of our heroic soldiers, who risked their lives in the battle to defeat Hamas and free all our hostages,鈥 Netanyahu posted on X.
The five soldiers aged between 20 and 28 鈥渇ell during combat in the northern Gaza Strip鈥, the Israeli military said.
Two others were severely wounded and 鈥渆vacuated to a hospital to receive medical treatment鈥, it said, adding their families had been notified.
Israeli military correspondents reported the deaths occurred when improvised explosive devices detonated in the area of Beit Hanun in the north of the territory.
During attempts to e