The Israeli army says 21 soldiers have been killed in central Gaza – the deadliest day for its forces since the war began.
It said the soldiers were preparing explosives to demolish two buildings on Monday when a rocket-propelled grenade was fired at a nearby tank, setting off the explosion prematurely and causing the buildings to collapse on them.
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“We are still studying and investigating the details of the event and the reasons for the explosion,” Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told reporters.
Earlier, the military said three soldiers were killed in a separate attack in southern Gaza.
The assault came as Israeli forces pushed deep into western Khan Younis in Gaza, with an air, sea and land bombardment that included storming a hospital and arresting medical staff, Gaza health ministry spokesman Ashraf al Qidra told Reuters news agency.
The 24 fatalities means it was the deadliest day for the Israeli Defence Force in Gaza since the war started in October.
At least 50 people were killed on Sunday night in Khan Younis, Mr Qidra said, adding the sieges at medical facilities meant rescuers could not reach the dead and wounded.
The United States called on Israel to protect innocent Palestinians and medical staff.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Monday that Israel had a right to defend itself, but added: “We expect them to do so in accordance with international law and to protect innocent people in hospitals, medical staff and patients as well, as much as possible.”
Israel has repeatedly claimed Hamas is using hospitals in Gaza as military positions.
Hamas and medical staff have denied this.
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