Nine Israeli Soldiers Killed, Dozens Wounded in Gaza Fighting

A series of intense clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian resistance groups have resulted in significant casualties on both sides in Gaza and the West Bank. Sgt. Yaniv Michalovitch of the Israeli Defense Forces was killed and eight soldiers wounded in multiple attacks in Gaza City's Shujaiya neighborhood, including RPG rocket strikes and anti-tank missile hits targeting military vehicles. Palestinian militant groups, particularly the Al-Quds Brigades of Islamic Jihad, claimed coordinated attacks involving ambushes, booby-trapped houses, and close combat engagements that inflicted heavy losses on Israeli soldiers, with some wounded evacuated under heavy fire. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 45 Palestinians and targeted over 140 sites in Gaza, including residential areas and aid distribution points, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. In the southern West Bank near Hebron, Israeli forces shot and killed 24-year-old Palestinian Samer Bassam Al-Zagharneh, adding to the over 166 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank this year. The violence continues amid international calls for a ceasefire, with both sides suffering severe losses and ongoing hostilities.