Israel's Gantz says Gaza fighting 'second war of independence' after death of commanders

Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz called the fighting in Gaza a "second war of independence" following the death of several commanders on Tuesday in a major blow to ground operations. 

"Israel's second independence war is taking a heavy, painful, and difficult price from us," Gantz wrote on X. 

"Everyone who falls is a scar on the entire State of Israel, and every such scar is a reminder of our warriors' heroism and the need to be worthy as a society of their sacrifice," he added. 

The Israeli military announced earlier that eight troops were killed in an ambush in Gaza's Shejaiya neighbourhood. 

They included the commander of the Golani Brigade’s 13th Battalion, the military's elite infantry unit. 

Two company commanders, a platoon commander and a squad commander were also among those killed.