Two dozen Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza in deadliest day of fighting

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said the Israel Defense Forces are investigating the deaths of 21 soldiers. Hamas terrorists on Monday killed the troops when they fired a grenade at a tank and set off explosives laid by Israeli forces. The secondary blast leveled a pair of two-story buildings and killed the reservists, according to the IDF. Hamas militants on Monday killed three other soldiers in a separate attack in southern Gaza, making it the deadliest day for the Israeli military since it launched its ground operation into the region.

Has Israel advanced in Gaza? The IDF on Tuesday said its forces had encircled the city of Khan Younis and instructed civilians to leave the area. Thousands of displaced Palestinians had sought shelter in the southern city in recent months. Israeli troops have focused their operations on hospitals in the region where they say Hamas fighters operate.

Dig deeper: Listen to Jill Nelson’s report on The World and Everything in It podcast about Israelis who gather in Tel Aviv to show support for the hostages being held by Hamas.