An Israeli soldier, Sergeant First Class (Reserve) Noam Shemesh, was killed in southern Gaza during clashes, bringing the total Israeli military death toll in the Gaza ground offensive to 430, according to The Times of Israel. Shemesh, a squad commander in the Shimshon Battalion of the Kfir Brigade, was killed by an RPG attack in Khan Yunis. Another soldier was injured in the same incident. Among the total casualties are also two police officers and three civilian contractors from the Defense Ministry. The conflict began after Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people. The IDF confirmed that 53 hostages remain in Gaza. Meanwhile, Israel has shifted its military focus to Iran’s nuclear facilities following recent Iranian missile strikes.