The Israeli military said the soldiers were killed in the southern city of Khan Younis, and that they were part of a team finding and demolishing tunnels.

Seven Israeli soldiers were killed in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis on Tuesday when their armored vehicle was struck by an explosive, an Israeli military official said.

Israel’s military is shifting its focus back to Gaza from its airborne operations against Iran, the military chief of staff Eyal Zamir said. "We have concluded a significant phase," Zamir said. “Now the focus shifts back to Gaza—to bring the hostages home and to dismantle the Hamas regime.