JERUSALEM
Israeli army on Wednesday dismissed several soldiers for refusing to board an unfortified personnel carrier ahead of being sent to the Gaza Strip.
About 30 reservists had refused to ride the carrier, which had been detonated in the Gaza Strip three days ago and left six soldiers dead, Israeli Channel 10 reported.
In a statement, the Israeli army said that the soldiers have been dismissed from the military service.
Six soldiers had been killed and a seventh abducted when a 1970s-model armored personnel carrier had been ambushed in al-Shujaya district in eastern Gaza Strip earlier this week.
The Israeli army admitted on Tuesday that one of its soldiers has gone missing in the Gaza Strip, two days after Hamas claimed to have captured the soldier.
In 2006, Hamas captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and swapped him for 1027 Palestinian prisoners in 2011.
Since July 7, Israel has pounded the coastal enclave with fierce air and naval bombardments with the stated aim of halting Palestinian rocket fire.
On Thursday night, Israel stepped up its offensive to include ground operations, sending thousands of troops into the embattled Palestinian territory.
At least 650 Palestinians have been killed and more than 4000 others injured in relentless Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.
According to official Israeli figures, 31 Israelis – including 29 soldiers– have been killed since hostilities began.
Israel's military operation, dubbed "Operation Protective Edge," is the self-proclaimed Jewish state's third major offensive against the densely-populated Gaza Strip – which is home to some 1.8 million Palestinians – within the last six years.
In 2008/9, over 1500 Palestinians were killed in Israel's three-week-long "Operation Cast Lead."
By Anees Barghouthy
www.aa.com.tr/en
