Israeli media reported that seven Israeli soldiers were killed inside an armored personnel carrier (APC) in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza Strip, after rescue efforts failed following a fire caused by an explosive device.

According to the Israeli army radio, the incident began when a Palestinian fighter planted an explosive device on the APC east of Khan Yunis. The device detonated, setting the vehicle ablaze.

The radio confirmed that rescue teams attempted to extinguish the fire by burying the vehicle in sand using a military bulldozer but were unable to put out the flames. The seven soldiers’ screams continued from inside the vehicle, prompting the decision to pull it outside the border fence in an attempt to extinguish the fire there. However, by that time, the soldiers had already been burned to death inside.

The families of the killed soldiers criticized the army for using outdated armored vehicles in operations inside Gaza, accusing the military of sending their sons into the Strip without adequate equipment.