5 Israeli soldiers killed in northern Gaza and 18 Palestinians dead in Israeli strikes

Source: Associated Press

5 Israeli soldiers killed in northern Gaza and 18 Palestinians dead in Israeli strikes

By TIA GOLDENBERG, FATMA KHALED and WAFAA SHURAFA
Updated 6:40 AM EDT, July 8, 2025

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Five Israeli soldiers were killed in an attack in Gaza, the Israeli military said Tuesday, while health officials in the Palestinian territory said 18 people were killed in Israeli strikes.

The bloodshed came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was visiting the White House for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump about a ceasefire plan to pause the Gaza fighting. While there was no announcement of a breakthrough, there were signs of progress toward a deal.

The killings of the soldiers could add to the pressure on Netanyahu to strike a deal in Israel, where polls have shown widespread support for ending the war.

Soldiers attacked with explosive devices

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-hamas-palestinians-war-news-07-08-2025-ec0e95f8988e8624d1d4e051116709f8