Israeli army says soldier killed in southern Gaza

The Israeli army said Sunday that a soldier had been killed in battle in Gaza one day earlier, as its war with Palestinian militant group Hamas enters its 20th month.

"Noam Shemesh aged 21 from Jerusalem... fell during combat in the southern Gaza Strip," the army said in a statement. About 430 soldiers have been killed since Israel's ground operation in Gaza began on October 27, 2023.