Two Israeli soldiers were killed and several others wounded after a military drone exploded near their unit in the Gaza Strip on Thursday.
The injured were taken to Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon for treatment. An Israeli military helicopter later landed at the hospital, according to the reports cited in initial coverage.
Blast described as accidental
Initial Israeli reports characterized the explosion as an accident, but did not provide details about how the blast occurred or what caused it. Some of the wounded soldiers were reported to be in serious condition.
The incident took place as Israeli military operations and fighting continued across Gaza, following the start of the war on 7 October 2023.
Military casualty figures
Figures attributed to the Israeli military put the number of soldiers and officers killed since the war began at 968. Of that total, 472 were reported killed since the start of the ground operation in Gaza.
