• People walk amidst the destruction caused by the Israeli air and ground offensive in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025 (AP)

Israeli media reported several casualties among Israeli troops in Gaza, as "Israel" continues its brutal war on the Palestinian enclave.

The media said that an Israeli soldier was killed and four others were wounded in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, reporting that an Israeli Hummer vehicle was hit by an anti-tank missile in the al-Tuffah neighborhood of Gaza City, leaving two soldiers in critical and serious condition.

The reports added that as rescue forces arrived, they were targeted by an explosive device, resulting in a fatality and two injuries, noting that the occupation military conducted helicopter evacuations.

Hamas' al-Qassam Brigades said that its fighters successfully carried out a complex ambush against an invading Israeli force east of al-Tuffah neighborhood in eastern Gaza City, leaving its members killed and wounded.

The Brigades added that its fighters also targeted a Merkava 4 tank and a D9 military bulldozer with two Yassin 105 shells, setting both vehicles ablaze in the Jabal al-Sourani area, east of Al-Tuffah neighborhood.

Later, the Israeli military confirmed that a Sergeant Major was killed in northern Gaza and three others were wounded.

This comes as the occupation continues its aggression on the Gaza Strip since March 18, 2025, leading to the martyrdom of 1,783 and the injury of 4,683 others, while the death toll of the genocidal war since October 7, 2023, has risen to 51,157 martyrs and 116,724 injuries.

Meanwhile, efforts for a new ceasefire agreement between the Palestinian Resistance and "Israel" continue, with Hamas affirming that the only way for the releae of Israeli captives is through a comprehensive ceasefire agreement.

Hamas discuss ceasfire, captive exchange with Turkish intel chief

On Saturday, Hamas announced in a statement that its delegation headed by the leadership council chairman, Mohammed Darwish, met with Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin during the delegation's visit to Turkiye.

The movement added in its statement that "its delegation discussed with the Turkish side the developments of the genocidal war targeting the Gaza Strip," while reiterating Hamas' readiness to immediately reach a comprehensive prisoner exchange agreement in return for stopping the war and the withdrawal of occupation forces from the Strip at the outset.

The delegation addressed the occupation's crimes in the occupied West Bank, particularly in occupied al-Quds and Al-Aqsa Mosque, along with the systematic displacement operations carried out by the occupation military in refugee camps across the northern West Bank.

On his part, Kalin reaffirmed during the meeting his country's stance on the Palestinian cause and its solidarity with the Palestinian people, who have shown "tremendous determination and patience in defending their land despite the Israeli attacks targeting civilians and the starvation policies implemented by Israel to forcibly displace the population."

Kalin reiterated Ankara's rejection of "Israel's" expansionist and occupation policies, opposing any new annexation attempts, stressing that Turkiye "will continue supporting all international efforts to achieve a permanent ceasefire."

Captives' families: Only a deal can bring them home

The families of Israeli captives in Gaza stressed on Saturday that the only way to secure their return is through a deal ending the war.

The captives' families criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's policies, stressing that military pressure hasn't made the Palestinian Resistance more flexible, but rather more determined to uphold its terms, while accusing Netanyahu of refusing to strike a deal to free the captives for his own personal gain.

The families proclaimed that "military pressure hasn't freed our sons but instead put them at greater risk of being killed."

The families noted that Ron Dermer, the occupation's Strategic Affairs Minister, had promised them that "releasing their sons would take six months."

The captives' families appealed to US President Donald Trump, stating, "You're the only one who can end this war."