Eight Israeli soldiers have been killed in a blast in the southern city of Rafah, the Israeli military confirmed on Saturday. The incident, which marks the deadliest for Israeli forces since January, occurred during an ongoing offensive aimed at rescuing hostages taken by Hamas militants on October 7.

The soldiers were travelling in a convoy following an overnight operation against Hamas when their armoured vehicle was hit. Among the fallen is Captain Wassem Mahmoud, 23, of the Combat Engineering Corps’ 601st Battalion. The names of the other seven soldiers have not yet been publicly released, though their families have been informed.

This comes amidst an escalated conflict between Israel and Hamas, with significant casualties on both sides. The Israeli military has intensified its operations in Gaza in response to the October 7 kidnappings, which saw numerous Israeli civilians and soldiers taken hostage by Hamas.

According to the Times of Israel, the convoy was part of a larger effort to dismantle Hamas infrastructure and rescue hostages.

The ongoing conflict has resulted in severe casualties. Health authorities in Gaza, governed by Hamas, report that more than 37,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the latest hostilities. The heavy toll on both sides highlights the dire human cost of the prolonged conflict and the urgent need for a resolution.

The Israeli government remains committed to rescuing the hostages and neutralising Hamas, despite the high risks involved.

International observers and humanitarian organisations continue to call for de-escalation and a renewed focus on peace talks to end the cycle of violence.