Israeli soldiers killed in weekend of brutal warfare

Palestinians clean up after their home was hit in an Israeli strike in Rafah (AP)

More than a dozen Israeli soldiers have been killed in combat in the Gaza Strip over the weekend in some of the bloodiest days of battle since the start of Israel’s ground offensive in late October – and a sign that Hamas is still putting up a fight despite weeks of brutal war.

The mounting death toll among Israeli troops, confirmed by authorities, is likely to play an important factor in Israeli public support for the war, which was sparked when Hamas-led militants stormed communities in southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 and taking 240 hostage.