Israeli army says five soldiers killed in Gaza since Friday

The Israeli army on Saturday said five of its soldiers had been killed in combat in the Gaza Strip since Friday, as it battles the territory's Hamas rulers.

Four soldiers were killed on Friday in southern Gaza, an army statement said, and a fifth on Saturday in the Palestinian territory's north, bringing to 144 the number of troops killed inside the Gaza Strip since the start of Israel's large-scale ground offensive on October 27.