Israeli Army Says 600 Soldiers Killed Since October 7

A soldier looks on as he carries the casket of Israeli soldier Sergeant Major Alon Kudriashov who was killed in Gaza during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, at his funeral, in Modiin, Israel, March 31, 2024. REUTERS/Nir Elias
A soldier looks on as he carries the casket of Israeli soldier Sergeant Major Alon Kudriashov who was killed in Gaza during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, at his funeral, in Modiin, Israel, March 31, 2024. REUTERS/Nir Elias
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Israeli Army Says 600 Soldiers Killed Since October 7

A soldier looks on as he carries the casket of Israeli soldier Sergeant Major Alon Kudriashov who was killed in Gaza during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, at his funeral, in Modiin, Israel, March 31, 2024. REUTERS/Nir Elias
A soldier looks on as he carries the casket of Israeli soldier Sergeant Major Alon Kudriashov who was killed in Gaza during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, at his funeral, in Modiin, Israel, March 31, 2024. REUTERS/Nir Elias

The Israeli military on Monday announced the death of a soldier in fighting in the Gaza Strip, bringing the total number of troops killed since the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel to 600.

The military announced the death of 20-year-old soldier Nadav Cohen, and updated its overall toll to 600 killed since the attacks that triggered the war.

The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 people hostage.

Israel responded with an air, land and sea offensive that has killed at least 32,782 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.

The Israeli military says it has killed over 13,000 Hamas fighters.

The war has displaced most of Gaza’s population and driven a third of its residents to the brink of famine. Northern Gaza has suffered vast destruction and has been largely isolated since October, leading to widespread hunger.



France Declines to Comment on Algeria’s Anger over Recognition of Morocco’s Claim over Sahara

French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
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France Declines to Comment on Algeria’s Anger over Recognition of Morocco’s Claim over Sahara

French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)

Paris declined to comment on Algeria’s “strong condemnation” of the French government’s decision to recognize Morocco’s claim over the Sahara.

The office of the French Foreign Ministry refused to respond to an AFP request for a comment on the Algeria’s stance.

It did say that further comments could impact the trip Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune is set to make to France in late September or early October.

The visit has been postponed on numerous occasions over disagreements between the two countries.

France had explicitly expressed its constant and clear support for the autonomy rule proposal over the Sahara during Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne’s visit to Morocco in February, reported AFP.

The position has helped improve ties between Rabat and Paris.

On Thursday, the Algerian Foreign Ministry expressed “great regret and strong denunciation" about the French government's decision to recognize an autonomy plan for the Western Sahara region "within Moroccan sovereignty”.

Algeria was informed of the decision by France in recent days, an Algerian foreign ministry statement added.

The ministry also said Algeria would draw all the consequences from the decision and hold the French government alone completely responsible.