The Israeli military suffered its worst day of losses in the Gaza conflict, with 24 soldiers killed in a major ground assault, marked by intense fighting and high casualties. Military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari confirmed that 21 soldiers died in an explosion when two buildings they had mined for demolition collapsed after militants fired grenades at a nearby tank. Earlier, three soldiers were killed in a separate attack in southern Gaza. This comes amid the heaviest fight of 2024 so far, as IDF troops surrounded and deepened their operation in Khan Younis, a stronghold of the Hamas brigade.

The Israeli 🇮🇱 army has had its worst day since launching its ground invasion, after at least 24 soldiers were killed in Gaza 🇵🇸.
The injured were airlifted during an exchange of fire with Palestinian fighters around Khan Younis.
210 Israeli soldiers have been killed since Israel… pic.twitter.com/gOAigl4YTe

— Donnie (@AdeptAnalytic) January 23, 2024

The area is home to hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians, with nearly all of Gaza's 2.3 million people losing their homes due to the conflict. Israel has declared its intention to dismantle Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist movement that rules Gaza and is sworn to Israel's destruction. The conflict has also led to an escalation in violence across the Middle East, with other groups allied to Israel's arch-foe, Iran, involved in attacks in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. The Iran-aligned Houthi movement in Yemen has attacked shipping in the Red Sea in support of Gaza, prompting retaliatory airstrikes by the United States and Britain.

The conflict has also resulted in significant discontent within Israel, with calls for more effort to bring home the hostages still held in Gaza. This growing dissatisfaction has led to a member of Netanyahu's war cabinet, former military chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot, calling for swift elections to replace the government. Additionally, Netanyahu's strategy of total annihilation of Hamas and a break with Washington's policy regarding a Palestinian state has also generated unease within the country. The conflict has left thousands dead, with at least 195 Palestinians killed in the previous 24 hours and a documented toll of 25,490.

With the vast majority of Gaza's population now penned into towns and sleeping rough in makeshift tents, the situation continues to worsen with inadequate food, water, and medication. The blockade by Israeli forces has left the wounded and dead beyond the reach of rescuers as fighting escalates. Despite the difficulties faced, Palestinians are celebrating the Israeli losses as a sign of victory against the occupation, vowing to make Gaza the graveyard for the occupation. As the conflict continues, it remains to be seen how both sides will navigate the growing casualties and escalating violence, and how the international community will respond to the worsening situation.