Roadside bomb blast kills 5 IDF soldiers in Gaza

A roadside bomb blast in northern Gaza killed five Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers and wounded 14 others, raising new questions about the security strategy of Israel’s ongoing operation in Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has named the fifth Israeli soldier from the Netzah Yehuda Battalion killed in a roadside bomb attack in Beit Hanoun, Gaza. He is Staff Sergeant Moshe Shmuel Nol. He is 21 years old. The IDF has not yet released the names of the other four soldiers killed. The Netzah Yehuda Battalion is made up mainly of ultra-Orthodox Jewish soldiers who serve as volunteers in the Israeli army. The local community in Beit Shemesh is mourning his death. The Times of Israel reported that a special prayer service was organized at a local synagogue. Analysts believe that Israel may intensify its operation in Gaza after the attack. The local health ministry reported that more than 40 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump met at the White House. Trump claimed that the military casualties in Gaza would not disrupt ceasefire talks. On the other hand, Netanyahu said that Israel and the US are working on a plan to resettle those displaced from Gaza in third countries. He said, “Some countries are ready to come forward.” Netanyahu has nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for accelerating peace talks. Steve Witkoff, a close friend and businessman of Trump, said, “This is an opportunity to end the war.”