24 IDF soldiers killed in Gaza as Netanyahu demands 'absolute victory'

Twenty-four Israeli soldiers have been killed in Israel's worst day of losses in Gaza, the country's military has revealed. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) also claimed to have encircled southern Gaza's main city and killed dozens of Palestinian fighters in a major ground assault.

Spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said 21 Israeli soldiers were killed when two buildings they had laid mines inside for demolition exploded after militants fired at a nearby tank. Earlier, three soldiers were reported killed in a separate attack in southern Gaza.

The deaths came as the IDF attacked the western part of Khan Younis, the main city in the south of the enclave which is sheltering hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who have fled areas to the north. Israel says the city is now the principal base of Hamas, the Islamist group that rules Gaza.

"Over the past day, IDF troops carried out an extensive operation during which they encircled Khan Younis and deepened the operation in the area. The area is a significant stronghold of Hamas' Khan Younis Brigade," the military said.

Netanyahu vows that Israel would not stop fighting until 'absolute victory'

"Yesterday we experienced one of our most difficult days since the war erupted," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday. "In the name of our heroes, for the sake of our lives, we will not stop fighting until absolute victory."

Since last week, Netanyahu has publicly vowed never to let Palestinians have an independent state, a break with Israel's main ally Washington, which has made a peace process ultimately leading to a Palestinian state the bedrock of its Middle East policy for decades.

Palestinian Red Crescent says its ambulances are pinned down by Israeli fire

The Red Crescent said a tank shell had hit its headquarters on Al Amal Hospital's fourth floor, and Israeli forces were firing from drones on anyone who moved nearby, making it impossible to dispatch ambulances for the entire Khan Younis area.

Israel says Hamas fighters operate in and around hospitals, making them legitimate targets. Hospital staff and Hamas deny this.

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At least 195 Palestinians were killed in the previous 24 hours, raising the documented toll to 25,490, according to Palestinian health officials, who say thousands more dead are feared lost in the rubble.

Bodies were being buried in the grounds of Khan Younis's main Nasser hospital because it was unsafe to go to the cemetery. Another Khan Younis hospital, Al-Khair, was stormed by Israeli troops who arrested staff there, and a third, Al-Amal, run by the Palestinian Red Crescent, was unreachable, according to Palestinian officials.

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