Foreign
Hamas causes buildings to collapse – 21 IDF soldiers dead, several wounded
Hamas forces fired a rocket-propelled grenade on multiple adjacent structures.
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Hamas forces fired a rocket-propelled grenade on multiple adjacent structures, which along with landmines that the IDF forces had collected and brought into the buildings, caused a total collapse that killed 19 soldiers and injured several others on Monday.
The incident occurred around 4:00 p.m. in Maghazi in central Gaza, only 600 meters from the border fence close to Kissufim.
In addition, right after Hamas’s attackers had attacked the soldiers in the buildings, an IDF tank noticed the attackers, and started to maneuver its turret toward them.
However, before it could fire, Hamas fired a separate rocket-propelled grenade at the tank, which killed two IDF soldiers and injured two others.
Details of the massive explosion are being investigated
It was unclear if the soldiers had violated procedures by bringing the landmines into the structures with them and also unclear how much the collapse of the building was caused by the RPG versus the secondary landmines explosions.
Palestinians at the site of an Israeli air strike in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, on December 17, 2023. (credit: ABED RAHIM KHATIB/FLASH90)
Moreover, it was unclear if the large volume of soldiers in the building at the time should have been there, or if the forces should have been more spread out to avoid the possibility of one large ambush.
Further, it was unclear whether the landmines were brought into the structures fully shielded and covered or with more unprotected explosive substances.
However, in a third update later Tuesday, IDF sources said that there was some evidence that the collapse was not caused by the landmines.
There were other adjacent structures also with soldiers and landmines which did not collapse.
The IDF forces who were harmed were mostly reservists from Unit 8208 assigned to clear certain areas of dangerous items, such as mines, or in this case, to use the mines to destroy certain structures which were viewed as presenting a threat to future Israeli southern residents’ security.
Rescue activities went on for hours with the brigade commander having been on site from the start of the incident and the brigadier general in charge of the entire Gaza defense division, arriving shortly after.
Late Tuesday, IDF Chief-of-Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi flew down to the site from the northern border, cancelling his original schedule to view the situation firsthand.
Halevi said, “The State of Israel woke up this morning to a painful and difficult update: 21 dead, among the best of our country who volunteered to defend their homeland.”
He emphasized the need to continue the war going forward to return security to Israel’s southern residents.
It was unclear what happened to the Hamas attackers, but IDF sources suggested they probably escaped.
The IDF is expected to probe how to avoid having such a large volume of soldiers in one spot to avoid future large losses all at once.
At the same time, IDF sources said that it was technically safer for the soldiers to have been in the buildings than if they were waiting outside in the open and completely exposed area.
It was unclear if there would be enough armored personnel carriers for the forces given that they were in an area which was considered operationally secure, and the IDF has shifted many of its resources to southern Gaza or other fronts.
There were no signs that this single incident would change that shift given the domestic pressure to release reservists and the global pressure to reduce Israel’s military footprint in Gaza.
There was also criticism that the IDF could have used the air force to destroy the building to avoid dangers to soldiers.
However, IDF sources brushed off these objections, saying that the air force cannot be everywhere and it is prioritized to attacking active Hamas units, not for just blowing up structures in areas where most of Hamas’s forces have already been beaten (even if smaller guerilla warfare cells remain.)
The IDF released the names of the soldiers killed:
From the 8208 Battalion, 261st Brigade:
Sgt. 1st Class (res.) Hadar Kapeluk, 23, from Moshav Mevo Beitar, a Class Commander.
Sgt.-Maj. (res.) Sergey Gontmaher, 37, from Ramat Gan.
Sgt.-1st Class (res.) Elkana Yehuda Sfez, 25, from Kiryat Arba.
Master Sgt. (res.) Yoav Levi, 29, from the city of Yehud-Monoson in central Israel.
Sgt 1st Class (res.) Nicholas Berger, 22, from Jerusalem.
Sgt. 1st Class (res.) Cydrick Garin, 23, from Tel Aviv-Yafo.
Sgt.-Maj. (res.) Ahmad Abu Latif, 26, from Rahat.
Captain Nir Binyamin, 29, from Givatayim.
St.-Sgt.-Maj. Elkana Vizel, 35, from Bnei Dekalim near the West Bank.
Sgt.-Maj. (res.) Israel Socol, 24, from the Israeli settlement Karnei Shomron in the West Bank.
Sgt.-Maj. Sagi Idan, 24, from Rosh Haayin.
Warrant Officer Mark Kononovich, 35, from Herzliya.
Warrant Officer Shay Biton Hayun, 40, from Zichron Yaakov.
Warrant Officer Daniel Kasau Zegeye, 38, from Yokneam.
From the 6261 Battalion, 261st Brigade:
Sgt.-Maj. (res.) Matan Lazar, 32, from Haifa.
Sgt.-Maj. (res.) Rafael Elias Mosheyoff, 33, from the town of Pardes Hanna-Karkur near Haifa.
St.-Sgt. (res.) Barak Haim Ben Valid, 33, from Rishon Lezion, a Class Commander.
Warrant Officer Itamar Tal, 32, from Kibbutz Mesilot in northern Israel.
Warrant Officer Adam Bismut, 35, the Israeli settlement Karnei Shomron in the West Bank.
From the 9206 Battalion, 205th Brigade:
Sgt. 1st Class (res.) Yoval Lopez, 27, from the settlement of Alon Shvut in the West Bank.
Captain (res.) Ariel Mordechay Wollfstal, 28, from the Israeli settlement Elazar in the West Bank.
Israeli officials’ comments
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “Yesterday, we experienced one of the most difficult days since the outbreak of the war. The IDF has launched an investigation into the disaster. We must learn the necessary lessons and do everything to preserve the lives of our soldiers. In the name of our heroes, for the sake of our lives, we will not stop fighting until absolute victory.”
President Isaac Herzog wrote that “behind every name whose world has fallen apart – a family that we take to our hearts with sorrow and pain, and at the same time with pride – for the heroism of the generation.”
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated, “On this difficult and painful morning, the most tragic news reached many homes in Israel; our hearts are with the dear families in their most difficult time. This is a war that will determine the future of Israel for decades to come – the fall of the fighters is a requirement to achieve the goals of the war.
“I send my condolences from the bottom of my heart to the families of the victims of the campaign and best wishes for a speedy recovery to the wounded.”
Yesh Atid Leader Yair Lapid said that he “sends a hug to the families of the soldiers. The entire nation of Israel is with you in your difficult time. May their memory be a blessing.”
National Unity Party Leader Benny Gantz said, “On this difficult morning, we must be united, remember the heavy price we are forced to pay for such a just war and the goal for which our heroes fell – to secure our future, to return our daughters and sons, and to take care of Israel forever. Especially today, we are sending strength to all IDF soldiers and their commanders. We are all behind you.”
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich described the incident as “heartbreaking news. Condolences from the bottom of my heart to the families of the heroes, the entire nation of Israel embraces you with a broken and aching heart. Our commitment is to ensure that the fall of our soldiers will not be in vain.”
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said “Precisely now it is clearer than ever – the war must not be stopped, the fighting must not be reduced. We must continue to subdue, crush and mow down the Nazi enemy in Gaza with all our might.”
Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana said, “It’s a difficult morning for the people of Israel to wake up to this heartbreaking news. On behalf of the Knesset, I would like to send my heartfelt condolences to the families of the fallen. Each of them is a world full of families, hopes, and dreams that were cut short prematurely. We all wish and pray for a speedy recovery of the wounded.”
Agriculture Minister and security cabinet member Avi Dichter said, “Most of the soldiers were reservists, who left entire families without a father and an entire country shocked and in pain.”
Far-left Hadash MK Ofer Cassif gives his “condolences to the families affected and best wishes for a speedy and full recovery to the injured.
“Their blood is on the hands of this atrocious government that sacrifices masses just for its own survival. They led us into the abyss, and they have no one to blame but themselves! They, in a messianic nightmare, ask for houses on the beach to be built on the corpses of soldiers, hostages, and thousands of Palestinians.
“There must be an uncompromising and fearless alternative in front of them that will stop the rivers of blood! A Jewish-Arab alternative of justice, equality, and peace. These criminals must leave already! Elections now!”
More than 90% of homes in Gaza have been destroyed or damaged, says the UN
Talks to extend the Gaza ceasefire have failed to reach an agreement, a Palestinian official has told the BBC, as the US accused Hamas of making “entirely impractical” demands at meetings in Qatar.
Negotiators have been trying to find a way forward after the first phase of the temporary truce ended on 1 March.
The US proposed to extend the first phase until mid-April, including a further exchange of hostages held by Hamas and Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
But the unnamed Palestinian official said Israel and Hamas disagreed over key aspects of the deal set out by US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff at the indirect talks.
Israel is yet to comment, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said he would receive a report from Israel’s negotiating team later on Saturday.
The White House accused Hamas of making “entirely impractical” demands in its response to Witkoff’s proposal.
It would extend the ceasefire into April but delay the negotiation of a permanent end to the war.
A statement from Witkoff’s office and the US National Security Council on Friday said: “Hamas is making a very bad bet that time is on its side. It is not.”
“Hamas is well aware of the deadline, and should know that we will respond accordingly if that deadline passes.”
A Hamas statement seen by the BBC said negotiations had broken down.
Netanyahu’s office had earlier said Israel accepted the US proposal.
It said Hamas remained “firm in its refusal and has not budged a millimetre,” accusing the group of “manipulation and psychological warfare”.
Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire deal involving three stages in January, after 15 months of war.
In the first stage, Hamas returned 25 living Israeli hostages, the remains of eight others, and five living Thai hostages. Israel released about 1,800 Palestinian prisoners in exchange.
The deal says stage two will include the remaining living hostages in Gaza exchanged for more Palestinian prisoners.
But both sides currently disagree on the number of hostages due to be released next.
They also disagree on the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, which the original deal states should be happening by now.
Israel resists this point, while Hamas insists it should happen.
Earlier in March, Israel blocked aid shipments to Gaza and then cut electricity, saying it aimed to put pressure on Hamas.
It is believed that Hamas is still holding up to 24 living hostages in Gaza and the remains of 35 others.
As indirect talks continued on Friday, the group said in a statement it was ready to release the last living Israeli-American hostage it is known to be holding.
Edan Alexander, 21, was serving as an Israeli soldier close to Gaza when he was taken.
Under the terms of the original ceasefire agreement, it was expected that he would have been among the last hostages to be released.
The group also said it would hand over the remains of four other dual nationals captured during the 7 October 2023 attacks.
It did not give further details or make clear what it would demand in return.
Witkoff dismissed the offer, saying Hamas was trying to appear flexible in public while being impractical in private.
The attacks led by Hamas on 7 October 2023 killed more than 1,200 people in southern Israel, mostly civilians, with 251 taken hostage.
The assault triggered an Israeli military offensive that has since killed more than 48,520 people, most of them civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry which are used by the UN and others.
Most of Gaza’s 2.1 million population has been displaced multiple times.
An estimated 70% of buildings have been damaged or destroyed, healthcare, water, and sanitation systems have collapsed and there are shortages of food, fuel, medicine and shelter.
Pro-Palestinian accounts later tried to share the Israeli man’s whereabouts.
Israeli national Tamir Ohayon was spat at and harassed by two local women while visiting Dublin for a business trip, he shared on Instagram with a video of the interaction.
“My heart is truly broken THIS is Ireland in 2025,” Ohayon shared. “During my business trip to Dublin, me and my co-worker were assaulted by an organized group of girls for simply being Israelis.”
Antisemitism is at a record high. We’re keeping our eyes on it >>
Ohayon claimed that before the filming began, one of the girls approached him and shared the information she had collected on him – including the hotel he was staying at.
North Korea, officially known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), is one of the most secretive and isolated countries in the world. Home to approximately 25 million people, the nation operates under a tightly controlled regime led by the Kim dynasty, where every aspect of life is influenced by the state. From peculiar propaganda stories to extraordinary military policies, North Korea often seems like a nation frozen in time, steeped in strict traditions, unique cultural practices, and an ironclad political ideology.
The global fascination with North Korea lies in its stark contrasts—an ancient Confucian culture juxtaposed with modern autocratic rule, a heavily militarized state, and a controlled economy. While much of its internal workings remain a mystery, certain facts about this nation defy logic and invite curiosity. From surreal laws to bizarre daily life experiences, North Korea offers a glimpse into a world that is completely unlike any other.
In this article, we explore some of the strangest and most intriguing realities of life inside this “hermit kingdom,” shedding light on a country that continues to captivate global attention.
1. Compulsory Loyalty Education
From childhood, North Korean students are taught an unwavering reverence for the ruling Kim dynasty. Their curriculum features propaganda-heavy materials, glorifying their leaders and emphasizing loyalty above all else. This contrasts starkly with global education systems, where diverse perspectives are encouraged.
2. Exclusive Tourism Policies
Tourists visiting North Korea must follow strict itineraries set by the state and are accompanied by government-assigned guides at all times. Photography is regulated, and visitors can only see a curated version of the country. Independent exploration is strictly forbidden, ensuring that the regime’s image remains controlled.
3. The “Single” State-Approved Haircuts
Rumors have circulated that North Korea offers a list of state-approved hairstyles for citizens, with women often required to choose styles reflecting their marital status. While some of these claims may be exaggerated, personal expression in fashion and appearance is minimal.
4. Technology Under Surveillance
North Koreans have access to only a government-controlled intranet, and mobile devices function primarily for calls within the country. Internet access is reserved for elites. Imported smartphones are modified to block external content, ensuring total control over digital communication.
5. The World’s Largest Stadium
North Korea boasts the Rungrado 1st of May Stadium, the largest stadium globally, seating up to 150,000 spectators. This facility hosts mass gymnastics and propaganda events, showcasing the regime’s power and unity.
6. Unique Calendar System
North Korea follows the Juche calendar, starting in 1912, the birth year of Kim Il-sung. This makes 2024 the year 113 in North Korea. This calendar is used exclusively within the country, separating it from the rest of the world.
7. Military Dominance in Daily Life
Approximately 4.7% of the population serves in the military, one of the highest ratios worldwide. Military parades and events play a crucial role in showcasing strength and maintaining public loyalty.
8. The Arduous March and Its Legacy
The 1990s famine, known as the « Arduous March, » left an indelible mark on North Korea. Despite improved conditions in recent years, food scarcity remains a pressing issue. Citizens rely on government-controlled distribution systems, with many turning to informal markets.
9. Elite-Only Cities
Pyongyang, the capital, is home to North Korea’s elite. Ordinary citizens need government approval to live or even visit the city. This segregation highlights the stark divide between the privileged and the working class.
10. State-Orchestrated Celebrations
National events, such as the Day of the Sun (Kim Il-sung’s birthday), are marked with grand displays of patriotism, including parades, performances, and fireworks. Participation is mandatory, demonstrating collective loyalty.
11. The Propaganda Machine
From elaborate murals to operatic performances, North Korea uses art as a medium for political propaganda. Movies and plays glorify the Kim dynasty and depict the West as adversaries.
12. Iconic Architectural Oddities
The Ryugyong Hotel, an unfinished pyramid-shaped skyscraper in Pyongyang, is an architectural curiosity. While incomplete for decades, it symbolizes the country’s ambitious, albeit unfulfilled, aspirations.
13. Restricted International Interactions
Citizens cannot freely interact with foreigners. This isolation fosters a controlled worldview and limits cultural exchange. Keywords like “controlled diplomacy” or “restricted international access” resonate here.
14. Unique Fashion Codes
Clothing choices often reflect social status and conformity. Bright colors or Western-style outfits are rarely seen, as citizens adhere to the regime’s preferred aesthetic.
15. Strict Border Controls
Defection is dangerous, with severe penalties for those caught attempting to flee. The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea remains one of the most fortified borders globally.
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