JERUSALEM

The Israeli army said Saturday it has lost 345 soldiers since the outbreak of fighting in the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7.

Spokesman Daniel Hagari said at a news conference that four soldiers were killed in Gaza, bringing the death toll to 345.

The Israeli army said 29 soldiers were killed in Gaza since last Tuesday when it started a military ground operation in Gaza.

Hagari said fighting is ongoing across the territory, and the army aims to dismantle the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, in Gaza.

The Israeli army has widened its air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip, which has been under relentless airstrikes since the surprise offensive by Hamas on Oct. 7.

“The death toll as a result of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip since October 7 is 9,500, including 3,900 children and 2,509 women,” Salama Marouf, the head of the Gaza Media Office, said at a news conference.

Nearly 1,540 Israelis have been killed.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar