ANKARA

The Israeli army announced Friday the killing of two more soldiers during battles in the central Gaza Strip.

In a statement, the army identified the soldiers as Maj. Omer Smadga, 25, and Maj. Gen. Saadia Yaakov Dery, 27.

The military said at least five soldiers were also injured, three of them seriously.

According to Israeli military figures, at least 664 soldiers have been killed and 3,871 others injured since the outbreak of the conflict in the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, 2023.

Israel has killed more than 37,400 Palestinians in Gaza since a cross-border attack by Hamas that claimed 1,200 lives. The onslaught has triggered a humanitarian disaster and an ongoing trial over alleged genocide at the International Court of Justice.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi