In a devastating attack, Hamas fighters ambushed a support force in Rafah, Gaza, resulting in the death of eight Israeli soldiers. The incident took place on Saturday and marked one of the deadliest days for Israeli troops in the region in recent months.

According to the Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, its soldiers executed a complex ambush in the Saudi neighborhood of Tal as-Sultan district. The fighters unleashed rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) on an Israeli military bulldozer, causing casualties among the soldiers. A subsequent "rescue force" vehicle that arrived at the scene was also targeted, resulting in the death of everyone on board.

The Israeli army confirmed the deaths of the soldiers during operational activity in southern Gaza, without providing further details. Daniel Hagari, the Israeli military spokesperson, stated that an investigation would be initiated to determine the circumstances of the attack. He emphasized the determination to disarm Hamas fighters and prevent further targeting of civilians.

Since the ground invasion of Gaza began on October 27, at least 307 Israeli troops have lost their lives, with thousands more wounded. The war has also taken a heavy toll on the Palestinian side, with Gaza's health ministry reporting the deaths of at least 37,296 people, mostly women, children, and the elderly, since the conflict started on October 7.

The latest casualties are likely to increase calls for a ceasefire and intensify public anger within Israel. Notably, in January, 21 Israeli troops were killed in a single attack by Palestinian fighters in central Gaza.

Despite international condemnation, Israeli forces continue to advance into and surround the city of Rafah, where at least 19 Palestinians were killed on Saturday. This has left hundreds of thousands of civilians trapped without access to basic necessities such as food, water, and medicine.

Following the deadly attack by Hamas, airstrikes, naval attacks, and artillery bombardment intensified in the Tal as-Sultan area. Mohamad Elmasry, a professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, commented on the attack, stating that it highlights the difficulty for Israel to achieve its stated goal of destroying Hamas after months of conflict. Reports indicate that around 70 percent of Hamas's fighting force remains intact, with the group able to recruit thousands of new members.

Gideon Levy, a columnist with the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, expressed concern over the growing casualties among Israeli soldiers. Levy suggested that an increasing number of people in Israel are questioning the purpose and duration of the war. He warned against an endless war of attrition and criticized Prime Minister Netanyahu's pursuit of a "total victory" against Hamas.

Despite mounting international pressure for a ceasefire, an agreement to halt the fighting appears distant. Multiple attempts to arrange a ceasefire since a brief truce in November have failed, with Hamas insisting on a permanent end to the war and full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Prime Minister Netanyahu, however, refuses to end the invasion until Hamas is eradicated.

It is estimated that more than 100 captives remain in Gaza, although many are believed to be deceased. The al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, conveyed that Israel can only recover its people by ending the war and withdrawing its troops from the besieged enclave.