In brief
The Israeli military announced that seven soldiers lost their lives due to an explosive device in Khan Younis, spotlighting the persistent hostilities in Gaza, just two weeks post-Israel-Iran war.
June 25, 2025, 4:19 a.m. ETThe conflict in Gaza remains dire as the Israeli military reported that seven of its soldiers were killed by explosive devices on Tuesday in Khan Younis. This incident represents the most significant loss of life for the Israeli military in a single event since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was broken in March.Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, the spokesperson for the Israeli military, described the soldiers as part of a combat engineering unit focused on detecting and neutralizing tunnels used by militant groups. The attack was characterized as a “complex” situation, prompting an ongoing investigation. He expressed the grief felt across the nation following the tragic news.Meanwhile, the Qassam Brigades, Hamas's armed wing, claimed responsibility for targeting Israeli forces in the Khan Younis region, although it remains uncertain if this attack corresponds directly to the casualties reported.The conflict escalated dramatically following the October 7, 2023, assault by Hamas, during which approximately 1,200 Israelis were killed and hundreds taken hostage. In response, the Israeli military's operations in Gaza have resulted in substantial casualties, with official Palestinian health sources reporting over 50,000 deaths since the outset of hostilities.
