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Associated Press

Israel’s military said Saturday that eight soldiers were killed in southern Gaza in the deadliest attack on Israeli forces in months.
The troops were killed in an explosion, the army said, without elaborating.
The deaths are likely to fuel calls for a ceasefire and heighten Israeli public anger over ultra-Orthodox exemptions from the military.
In January, 21 Israeli troops were killed in a single attack by Palestinian militants in Gaza.

Last month, Israel’s Supreme Court ordered an end to government subsidies for many ultra-Orthodox men who do not serve in the army.
A new draft law has not been passed, but the coalition of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week voted in favour of extending exemptions for religious men.
Although the vote was only procedural, it caused an uproar by being approved during a war in which hundreds of soldiers have died and many others remain inside Gaza or on the front lines against Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.
Israel’s coalition government contains a powerful bloc of ultra-Orthodox parties that have been long-time partners of Netanyahu.
Israel’s bombardment and ground offensives in Gaza have killed more than 37,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health officials, who do not give the breakdown of civilians and fighters.
The war has also driven about 80 per cent of the population of 2.3 million from their homes, and Israeli restrictions and ongoing fighting have hindered efforts to bring in humanitarian aid, fuelling widespread hunger.


Israel launched its campaign after Hamas and other militants stormed into Israel on October 7, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostage.
Over 100 hostages were released during a week-long ceasefire last year in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Hamas is believed to be holding around 80 hostages and the remains of another 40.
Months of ceasefire negotiations have failed to find common ground between Israeli and Hamas. On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Hamas proposed changes to a US-backed plan, some of which he said were “workable” and some not.
Hamas has continually called for a permanent ceasefire and complete Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza as part of any deal that would see the hostages released.
While the proposal announced by US President Joe Biden includes these two provisions, Hamas has expressed concern about whether Israel will commit to them.


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Israel-Gaza war

8 Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza, in deadliest attack in months

Relatives and supporters of Israelis held hostage in Gaza rally in Tel Aviv on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Israeli police officers remove protesters who are blocking a road in Bnei Brak during a protest on June 2 against possible changes in the laws that exempt ultra-Orthodox men from military conscription. Photo: dpa

Lebanon’s Hezbollah reveals more of its arms in risky escalation with Israel

An Israeli warplane flies over the Israel-Lebanon border amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces. Photo: Reuters

Hezbollah rockets have set off wildfires in northern Israel. Photo: AFP

An interception of a rocket launched from Lebanon to Israel. Photo: Reuters

The aftermath of an Israeli air strike in the southern Lebanese town of Wadi Jilo. Photo: AFP

Gaza war: US sanctions Israeli group, Tsav 9, that attacked aid convoys ‘threaten peace’

Palestinians collect food from a UN-run aid supply centre, distributing food to local Palestinians and people displaced. Photo: AFP

People mourn following an incident when Israeli forces opened fire on crowds rushing at an aid distribution point in Gaza City on February 29. Photo: AFP

Malaysia’s Anwar talks ‘totally insane’ US-Israel nexus, Gaza – and his Hamas ties

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim speaks during an interview at his office in Putrajaya. Photo: Hadi Azmi 

People in Kuala Lumpur hold placards during a silent protest in solidarity with the Palestinian people on Monday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Anwar with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh during their meeting in Qatar last month. Photo: Facebook/Anwar Ibrahim

Anwar delivers a speech during the ‘Malaysia Stands with Palestine’ solidarity rally, held in Kuala Lumpur in October. Photo: EPA-EFE

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat signs a joint Israeli-Arab peace commitment in 1997 to mark the fourth anniversary of the signing of the Oslo Accords alongside Leah Rabin, widow of assassinated Israeli PM Yitzhak Rabin who signed the original accords. Photo: Reuters

Palestinians children search through the rubble of their homes on June 9, a day after an Israeli operation in the Nuseirat camp, in the central Gaza Strip. Photo: AFP/Getty Images/TNS

US President Joe Biden with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu during a joint press conference on October 18. Anwar said the focus should now firmly be on Israel’s prime minister. Photo: Avi Ohayon/GPO/dpa 

People flee an explosion following an Israeli air strike on Al Bureije refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip on June 3. Photo: EPA-EFE

Why is a Gaza truce deal eluding Israel and Hamas? Here are the main sticking points

An Israeli bombardment inside the Gaza Strip in February. File photo: AP 

A scene of destruction in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip after heavy bombardment. Photo: Reuters

An Israeli tank and an APC manoeuvre inside the Gaza Strip. Photo: Reuters

Family members and supporters in Tel Aviv demand the immediate release of hostages. Photo: Reuters

News

World

Middle East

The deaths are likely to fuel calls for a ceasefire and heighten Israeli public anger over ultra-Orthodox exemptions from the military


The deaths are likely to fuel calls for a ceasefire and heighten Israeli public anger over ultra-Orthodox exemptions from the military.


War and conflict

Israel

Diplomacy

Religion

8 Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza, in deadliest attack in months

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}The deaths are likely to fuel calls for a ceasefire and heighten Israeli public anger over ultra-Orthodox exemptions from the military

The deaths are likely to fuel calls for a ceasefire and heighten Israeli public anger over ultra-Orthodox exemptions from the military