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Netanyahu Emphasizes Continuation of War; 9 Israeli Soldiers Killed in Gaza

Feb 5, 2026 February 5, 2026 2 min read 📰 VOA Persian
📋 Key Takeaway

Nine Israeli soldiers were killed in Gaza, prompting Prime Minister Netanyahu to declare that Israel must continue the war. The total number of Israeli casualties since the onset of conflict with Hamas has now reached 153. This escalation highlights the ongoing violence and the complex dynamics involving Israel, Hamas, and regional actors.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: The ongoing violence in Gaza underscores the persistent instability in the region and the challenges in achieving lasting peace.

👥 Key Players

Benjamin Netanyahu MENTIONED
Prime Minister of Israel
"As the leader of Israel, Netanyahu's decisions and statements significantly influence the country's military and political strategies, especially in conflicts involving Gaza."
Hamas MENTIONED
Palestinian militant organization
"Hamas is a key adversary in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, controlling the Gaza Strip and engaging in frequent clashes with Israeli forces."
Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) MENTIONED
Military forces of Israel
"The IDF is responsible for Israel's defense and has a central role in the ongoing military operations in Gaza."

📰 What Happened

Nine Israeli soldiers were killed in Gaza during clashes with militants, prompting Prime Minister Netanyahu to assert the necessity of continuing military operations. The death toll of Israeli forces since October 7 has reached 153.

  • Nine Israeli soldiers were killed in Gaza on December 23.
  • Netanyahu emphasized the continuation of military operations despite casualties.

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: Iran supports Hamas and other groups opposing Israel, so developments in Gaza can influence Iran's regional strategy and rhetoric.
🌍 Regional: The conflict affects regional stability, involving neighboring countries like Egypt and Lebanon, and influences Arab-Israeli relations.
🌐 International: Western countries, especially the US, are involved in mediating peace and providing military support to Israel, making this conflict a point of international concern.

📚 Background

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been a longstanding issue, with periodic escalations leading to significant casualties and international diplomatic efforts to mediate peace.

Israeli-Palestinian conflict Middle East peace process
📡 Source: INTERNATIONAL
📊 Confidence: 70%
The Times of Israel is generally considered a reliable source for news on Israeli affairs, though it may reflect a perspective aligned with Israeli interests.

On Sunday, December 24, the Israeli army announced the names of 9 soldiers killed in clashes on Saturday, December 23, in the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, in response to the casualties of Israeli soldiers, stated, "We have no choice but to continue the war." According to 'Times of Israel', with this number, the toll of Israeli forces killed in the past week has reached 14. The report states that on Saturday in southern Gaza, five soldiers from the combat engineering unit and one Israeli medic were killed due to a guided anti-tank missile hitting an armored engineering vehicle they were in. Four other Israeli forces were also killed on the same day during two separate clashes with militants in central Gaza and due to a bomb explosion. With this week's figures, the total number of Israeli forces killed since October 7, following the attacks by Hamas militants, has reached 153. Benjamin Netanyahu, at the beginning of the cabinet meeting on Sunday, in response to the casualties of Israeli soldiers, said: "The war inflicts very heavy losses on us, but we have no choice but to continue the war." The continuation of the war in Gaza; Israel conducted retaliatory attacks on Hezbollah positions in Lebanon. Israel called for the withdrawal of Egyptian forces from the Rafah border area. An Israeli army spokesman stated: Hassan Al-Atrash, one of the Hamas commanders, was killed in 'Rafah'.

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Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →

Translation confidence: 85%

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