Commander of Israeli Elite Troops Killed in Ambushed in Gaza, Hamas: The Longer You Stay, the More Losses

Israeli troops on land operations in Gaza. (Source: Israel Defense Forces)

JAKARTA - The Israeli military suffered its biggest combat loss since October, when a group of Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) troops was ambushed and killed a brigade commander, which was considered a 'high price' but did not dampen enthusiasm for fighting the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Israel announced its worst defeat in fighting in more than a month on Wednesday, following an ambush on Gaza ruins.

Heavy fighting is underway in north and south Gaza, a day after the UN demanded an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. 10 Israeli soldiers were reported killed in the past 24 hours, including a senior colonel commanding a forward base and a lieutenant colonel commanding a regiment. This was the worst daily loss in a day since 15 Israeli soldiers were killed on October 31.

Most of the deaths occurred in the Shejaia district north of Gaza City, where troops were ambushed while trying to rescue another group of soldiers who were attacking Hamas fighters in a building, the military said.

An Israel Defense Forces official said Israel had paid a "very heavy price" in the incident.

Separately, Hamas said the incident showed Israeli troops would never be able to conquer Gaza:

"The longer you stay there, the greater your loss and death will be, and you will come out of there with disappointment and loss, God willing," said the group, reported by Reuters, December 14.

Commenting on a deadly ambush in Shejaia District yesterday that killed nine soldiers, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said "the commanders who fell in battle are an expression of our spirit."

"Yesterday we had a difficult incident, but this was an incident where one force was in trouble and many troops and senior commanders were thrown into battle, into danger, commanders on the front lines, because this is what we teach in the IDF," he said Lt. Gen. Halevi, quoted from The Times of Israel.

Meanwhile, Head of IDF Southern Command, Major General Yaron Finkelman, met with commanders of the Golani Brigade in Shejaia District.

"Yesterday you proved in practice that 'After me' is not a slogan, but an order for us commanders to lead from the front even when the price is very heavy," he said.

"We have a big challenge ahead of us. We will continue to attack the enemy as we have done here in Shejaia and elsewhere and we will continue to lead as commanders," he continued.

"You are a winning generation. You prove it every day. We are all inspired by you and the Golani spirit that will continue. We will act and win," added Finkelman.

It is known that two of the Israeli soldiers who died were senior officers and led elite Israeli troops.

First, Colonel Itzhak Ben Basat, head of the Golani Brigade commander team. He is the most senior IDF officer to die since the ground operation in Gaza.

The next senior officer to die was Lieutenant Colonel Tomer Grinberg, Commander of the Golani Brigade's 13th Battalion.