In a tragic turn of events, an Israeli soldier has been killed during a ground raid conducted by the Israeli Army in the Gaza Strip, according to a statement released by Israel's military. The soldier was reportedly struck by an anti-tank missile, believed to have been fired by the Palestinian armed group Hamas.

The raid, which took place on Sunday, also left three other Israeli soldiers injured, with one in moderate condition and two sustaining minor injuries. The purpose of the operation, as stated by the Israeli military, was to locate Hamas captives in the Khan Younis area of Gaza and to disrupt terrorist infrastructure.

Hamas, through its armed wing known as the Qassam Brigades, claimed on its Telegram account that it had successfully pushed back the Israeli forces into Israeli territory. This development comes as Israeli forces have been conducting a series of raids along the border, with the intention of clearing the area and gathering intelligence on captive individuals held by Hamas.

"The ongoing raids by Israel are prompting Hamas to prepare for a potential ground invasion," reported Al Jazeera's Tareq Abu Azzoum from Khan Younis. The Palestinian fighters are reportedly intensifying their preparedness to confront any possible incursion into the besieged territory. The security conditions within Gaza are currently deemed unpredictable, according to Azzoum.

The killing of the Israeli soldier is expected to be taken very seriously by the Israeli army as the conflict continues, stated Al Jazeera's Mohammed Jamjoom from occupied East Jerusalem. Meanwhile, Israel has been conducting airstrikes on the Gaza Strip for over two weeks in response to a surprise incursion by Hamas into Israel on October 7.

As tensions remain high and clashes persist, both sides brace for further escalation in the ongoing conflict. The loss of an Israeli soldier serves as a stark reminder of the price paid during these intense confrontations in the volatile region.