JERUSALEM, Dec 24: The number of Israeli soldiers killed in the escalation of conflict with Palestinian movement Hamas since October 7 has reached 485, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Sunday.
The IDF said that eight more soldiers were killed on Saturday.
As many as 1996 military personnel have been injured since October 7, of whom 321 have been hospitalized with serious injuries, the military said.
On October 7, Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip, while its fighters breached the border, opening fire on the military and civilians. As a result, over 1,200 people in Israel were killed and some 240 others abducted. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza and launched a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. Over 20,000 people have been killed so far in Gaza as a result of Israeli strikes, local authorities said.
On November 24, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire was extended several times and expired on December 1. (UNI)
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