Palestinian militant fire likely killed Israeli soldiers, military says

(Adds quote, background) JERUSALEM, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Rocket fire by Palestinian militants likely caused a blast that collapsed two buildings and killed a group of Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip, a military spokesperson said on Tuesday. Over the past 24 hours, he added, Israeli forces killed more than 100 militants in western Khan Younis in southern Gaza, he said.

(Adds quote, background) JERUSALEM, Jan 23 (Reuters) -

Rocket fire by Palestinian militants likely caused a blast that collapsed two buildings and killed a group of Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip, a military spokesperson said on Tuesday. Israel on Monday suffered the highest daily death toll of its Gaza offensive with 24 fatalities including 21 in the rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) attack in central Gaza and three elsewhere.

"A militant squad surprised the force with RPG fire. The first rocket hit one of the buildings in which explosives had been laid. The hit apparently led to the explosion that caused the collapse of the building and the building next to it," Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told reporters in Tel Aviv. Most of the soldiers died as a result of the explosion and the building's collapse, Hagari said. Two who were securing the area in a nearby tank were killed by a second rocket, Hagari said, citing an initial inquiry.

The soldiers laid the explosives as part of an operation to clear the area, about 600 meters (650 yards) from the Israeli border, Hagari said. The military was still studying the incident, Hagari said. Over the past 24 hours, he added, Israeli forces killed more than 100 militants in western Khan Younis in southern Gaza, he said.