GAZA — Seven Israeli soldiers were killed in the southern Gazan city of Khan Younis when an explosive device attached to their armoured vehicle detonated, a spokesperson for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said on Wednesday.

The spokesperson added that attempts were made to rescue the soldiers, but without success.

Another soldier was wounded elsewhere in the Khan Younis region by weapons fire on Tuesday, the military said.

The Hamas militant group said on Telegram that it had ambushed Israeli soldiers taking cover inside a residential building.

It comes a day after Gaza health officials reported at least 44 people were killed when Israeli forces and drones opened fire towards hundreds of Palestinians who were waiting for aid in separate incidents in southern and central Gaza on Tuesday.

Since the launch of Israel's operation against Hamas that started on 7 October 2023 after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel, more than 860 Israeli soldiers have died, over 400 of those while fighting in Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.

The Hamas-run healthy ministry in Gaza says the Israeli offensive has killed more than 56,000 Palestinians, figures that do not distinguish between fighters and civilians. — Euronews