Israeli Military Reports Three Soldiers Killed in Southern Gaza

In Jerusalem, the Israeli military confirmed on Wednesday that three soldiers had been killed in combat in southern Gaza, marking a tragic turn in the ongoing conflict. Additionally, three soldiers were reported to have been seriously wounded in the same incident, although no further details were provided at the time. According to reports from Israel's public broadcaster Kan radio, the soldiers sustained injuries from an explosive device detonated within a building in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza.

Despite an order from the International Court of Justice urging a ceasefire, Israeli forces continued their offensive in Rafah. The objective of the offensive remained the same: to eradicate the last remaining strongholds of Hamas fighters in the area and to secure the release of hostages held by the militant group.

The international community expressed growing concern over Israel's prolonged military operation in Rafah, particularly after a devastating airstrike on Sunday ignited a fire in a tent camp located in the city's western district. The airstrike resulted in the tragic loss of at least 45 lives. Israeli authorities maintained that the airstrike was targeting two senior Hamas operatives and insisted that civilian casualties were unintended. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed deep regret over the incident, acknowledging that "something unfortunately went tragically wrong."

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The Israeli military initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Sunday's airstrike, considering the possibility that munitions stored near the targeted compound may have ignited, leading to the catastrophic outcome.

In anticipation of the military offensive, Israel had issued evacuation warnings to nearly one million Palestinian civilians residing in Rafah, who had already endured months of conflict. As a result, a significant portion of the population had fled the city, seeking refuge elsewhere. According to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), approximately one million individuals had evacuated Rafah since the commencement of the incursion in early May.

Amid escalating tensions, the United States, Israel's staunch ally, reiterated its opposition to a large-scale ground offensive in Rafah. While affirming its support for Israel's right to self-defense, the U.S. government stated that it did not believe a major ground operation was underway at the time.