Israeli army says another soldier killed in Gaza combat

The Israeli army on Wednesday said another of its soldier was killed in the Gaza Strip, as it continued with its ground offensive.

The army in a statement said "Sergeant Noam Yosef Abu, 20, from Dimona, a fighter in the 931st Battalion of the Nahal Brigade, one of the elite brigades, was killed in a battle in the northern Gaza Strip."

The number of Israeli soldiers killed in the ground battles that began in late October has risen to 34.

The statement added that two soldiers from the 7107th Battalion, a fighter from the 198th Battalion, and a fighter from the 196th Battalion, were seriously injured in separate battles.

Israel, which has continued air raids on the besieged Palestinian enclave since the Oct. 7 Hamas offensive, recently expanded its attacks that included a ground invasion, marking the start of the "second stage" of its war against the group.