JERUSALEM, July 22: Two Israeli soldiers were killed in combat in the Gaza Strip, the army said today, raising the number of troops killed in the 15-day conflict with Hamas to 27.
“Yesterday, Monday, two IDF (Israel Defence Forces) soldiers were killed during battles of Operation Protective Edge,” a statement from the army read.
The army said three other soldiers were seriously wounded over the course of the night.
In Gaza, 576 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its operation on July 8, according to data provided by the enclave’s emergency services spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra today.
Since the offensive began huge numbers of Gazans have fled their homes, with the UN saying more than 100,000 people have sought shelter in 69 schools run by its Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA).
Since the Israeli military launched Operation Protective Edge in a bid to stamp out rocket fire, Palestinian militants have fired 1,570 mortars and rockets that hit Israel, with air defences intercepting another 396, the army said.
Two Israeli civilians have been killed by rocket and mortar fire since the start of the offensive. (AGENCIES)
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