The incident, which took place in the Khan Yunis area of the southern Gaza Strip, sent shock waves through the israeli leadership.

Israeli President Yitzhak Hertzog expressed his sorrow, calling it a "sad and difficult morning", while War Minister Yoav Gallant described it as "difficult and painful". Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called the news "heartbreaking" and acknowledged the gravity of the situation.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said of the operation: "The heart is broken and shattered this morning". The Minister of Energy highlighted the high price paid, saying, "A very hard morning, and the loss of 21 soldiers in Gaza is an extremely high price".

Israel's war minister, Benny Gantz, said: "A hard morning for the entire people of israel with the catastrophe of the death of 21 soldiers."

The Zionist military confirmed the deaths, attributing them to gunfire from Palestinian resistance fighters in central Gaza. The incident involved the firing of rocket-propelled grenades at a building which collapsed on the troops stationed inside. The building had been rigged with explosives for later demolition by the zionist forces. (ILKHA)