Jerusalem:
An Israeli soldier was killed in Gaza earlier today, taking the army's losses in the 18-day operation against Islamist foe Hamas to 33, a statement said.
The army named the dead soldier as reservist Yair Ashkenazy, 36, adding that he "was killed earlier today during operational activity in the northern Gaza Strip."
The army said that 33 soldiers and officers have now been killed in Gaza since the launch of its offensive on July 8.