Jerusalem, Apr 25 (UNI) An Israeli tank driver was killed by sniper fire in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli military said in a statement on Thursday.
The soldier, who served in the 79th Battalion of the "Machatz" Armored Brigade, was killed "during combat in northern Gaza," the military said, adding that his family had been notified of his death. The slain soldier's name has not yet been cleared for publication.
In addition, an officer in the Yahalom Unit and a reservist from the same battalion were severely wounded in the incident and evacuated to a hospital, according to the statement.
Meanwhile, Israel Defence Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir warned earlier in the day that Israel would escalate its military campaign in Gaza if Hamas does not release the remaining hostages soon.
"If we do not see progress in the return of the hostages in the near future, we will expand our operations to an even more intense and significant phase," Zamir said during a tour of Gaza, where he met with ground forces and held a situation assessment with commanders, according to another military statement.
According to Israeli authorities, 59 hostages remain in Gaza, including 58 of the 251 taken by Hamas during its Oct. 7, 2023, assault on southern Israel. The IDF has confirmed that at least 35 hostages of those still held are believed to be dead.
UNI XINHUA ARN