Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Reality is that there is a very limited retreat of the vehicles, with the occupation forces providing cover undeer fire up to Salah al-Din Street
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Claims that the Israeli occupation has withdrawn from areas in the neighborhoods of al-Zaytoun, al-Tuffah, and al-Shujaiya are false
Hamas: The two delegations stressed that any negotiations must lead to the achievement of our people's goals and aspirations, foremost among which is ending the war and the complete withdrawal of enemy forces
Hamas: A delegation from the Hamas leadership, led by the head of the leadership council, Mohammad Darwish, met with an Islamic Jihad delegation, headed by its Secretary-General, Ziyad al-Nakhalah

Israeli officials react to 'one of the worst days' since October 7

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Israeli media
  • 23 Jan 2024 11:28
5 Min Read

Top Israeli officials have quickly responded to news regarding the killing of 21 soldiers in one go in the central Gaza Strip on Monday.

  • x
  • Israeli officials react to 'one of the worst days' since October 7
    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L), Security Minister Yoav Gallant (C), and War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz hold a press conference in an Israeli military base in "Tel Aviv", occupied Palestine, on October 28, 2023. (AFP)

Top Israeli officials decried the "major disaster" in the Gaza Strip, in which 21 soldiers were eliminated in one go by the Palestinian Resistance on Monday.

"An unbearably difficult morning, in which more and more names of the best of our sons are added to the gravestones of heroes, in a war that has no justice," Israeli President Isaac Herzog posted on X.

The incident, in which a slew of Israeli soldiers and officers were killed — most of whom served under the Gaza Division's reserve 261st Infantry Brigade — resulted in a whirlwind of reactions in Israeli circles.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Security Minister Yoav Gallant, Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, and opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett were among those to quickly comment on yet another event that highlighted the capabilities of the Palestinian Resistance.

Read more: Al-Qassam ambush takes down 30 Israeli soldiers in one go

Reactions of Israeli officials

Isaac Herzog

Herzog said, "More and more of the best of our sons" continue to die in the war, which the Israeli occupation had launched on the Gaza Strip.

Since the Israeli ground invasion into the Gaza Strip was launched on the night of October 27, at least 221 soldiers and officers were killed, as official numbers spiked when the Israeli occupation expanded its operations to the southern Gaza Strip, on December 1, and the central Gaza Strip at a later stage.

Herzog asserted that the ongoing battles are "intense" and are taking place in "an extremely challenging space."

Benjamin Netanyahu

Related News

Kahana resigns from Gantz' party, may join Bennett's

200+ protest ex-Israeli PM's visit to Columbia University

Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that the Israeli occupation "experienced one of the most difficult days since the outbreak of the war."

Regarding the "disaster" that unfolded in the central Gaza Strip, Netanyahu said the IOF "launched an investigation" to determine the causes of the incident.

Netanyahu asserted that the Israeli occupation "will not stop fighting until the absolute victory."

Benny Gantz

A member of the Israeli war cabinet and former member of the opposition, Benny Gantz, reminded Israeli settlers of the "heavy price" that they "are forced to pay" for what he claimed is a "just war", which sought to achieve a "lofty goal".

Yoav Gallant

On his part, the Israeli Security Minister and member of the war cabinet, Yoav Gallant, described Tuesday morning as "difficult and painful."

Stressing that the ongoing Battle of Al-Aqsa Flood "will determine the future of Israel for decades to come," the official claimed that the recent incident will compel the authorities to "achieve the goals" of their genocidal war on Gaza.

Itamar Ben-Gvir

Police Minister and renowned far-right extremist, Itamar Ben-Gvir, said the large death toll announced on Tuesday "make it clearer than ever" that "Israel" should not deescalate in the Gaza Strip and continue its war on the Gaza Strip.

"I wish we would be worthy of [killed Israeli soldiers] and fulfill their will, which was written in blood — crushing and destroying Hamas and returning all the hostages," Ben-Gvir said. Interestingly, despite the fact that 108 days have passed since the Resistance launched its operation into the Gaza Envelope and taken hundreds of Israelis captive, the Israeli military has yet to retrieve, via military action, a single captive alive.

Naftali Bennett

Former Israeli Prime Minister and member of the opposition, Naftali Bennett, said that Tuesday is "a day of immense pain for the people of Israel."

Yair Lapid

Among those quick to comment was opposition leader Yair Lapid who shared his counterparts' takes, saying that Tuesday morning was "unbearably difficult".

"Heroes of Israel, lovers of the land, its defenders," Lapid wrote about the 21 soldiers and officers who were crushed under the rubble of two buildings that they had planned to detonate near al-Maghazi refugee camp, in the central Gaza Strip.

"I send a hug to the families of the fighters. The entire nation of Israel is with you in your difficult time. May their memories be a blessing," Lapid posted on X.

Scenes similar to an earthquake-hit site

Citing the aforementioned testimonies, the Israeli news website Ynet said the scene of the site, where the 21 soldiers were killed, was reminiscent of the aftermath of an earthquake.

Ynet said a large force was deployed to the scene to complete the search and rescue efforts.

Read more: Israeli soldiers returning from Gaza feeling defeated, reports say

  • Naftali Bennett
  • Gaza Strip
  • Operation Al-Aqsa Flood
  • Palestine
  • Yoav Gallant
  • Israel
  • Benjamin Netanyahu
  • Isaac Herzog
  • Yair Lapid
  • Itamar Ben-Gvir
  • Benny Gantz
  • Gaza
  • Al-Maghazi Refugee Camp
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS