5 More Israeli Soldiers Killed İn Gaza Operation: Army

At least five Israeli soldiers were killed on Monday in clashes with Palestinian groups near the border with the Gaza Strip, increasing to 53 the number of Israeli troops killed since an ongoing Israeli offensive against the Palestinian enclave started earlier this month.



In a statement, the Israeli army said the five troops were killed in clashes near the border area of Nahal Oz when Palestinian militants used a tunnel to enter Israeli land.



The army identified the slain soldiers as Sergeant Daniel Kedmi, 18; Sergeant Barkey Ishai Shor, 21; Sergeant Sagi Erez, 19; Sergeant Dor Dery, 18, and Nadav Raimond, 19.



Since July 7, Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip with fierce aerial and artillery bombardments with the ostensible aim of halting rocket fire from the strip.



At least 1119 Palestinians have been killed and more than 6550 others injured in the relentless Israeli attacks on Gaza, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.



Gaza-based resistance factions, meanwhile, have continued to fire rocket at Israeli cities in response to relentless Israeli bombardments.



According to official Israeli figures, three civilians – along with the 53 troops - have been killed since the hostilities began.



Israel's military operation, dubbed operation "Protective Edge," is the self-proclaimed Jewish state's third major offensive against the densely-populate Gaza Strip – which is home to some 1.8 million Palestinians – within the last six years.



In 2008/9, over 1500 Palestinians were killed in Israel's three-week-long operation "Cast Lead."



By Abdel-Raouf Arnaout



englishnews@aa.com.tr



www.aa.com.tr/en - Kudüs