Israeli occupation army announced that five soldiers were killed in mortar fire near the Gaza border, raising the Israeli deaths to 61 since the offensive started on July 7.

Israeli occupation army announced that five soldiers were killed in mortar fire near the Gaza border, raising the Israeli deaths to 61 since the offensive started on July 7.

5 Israeli soldiers were killed on Thursday “during operational activity along the border with the Gaza Strip when a mortar was fired at the forces,” the occupation army said in a statement.

Their deaths bring the Israeli military toll to 61, since the beginning of "Operation Protective Edge," the statement added.

Earlier that day, two people were wounded by rocket fire in the southern city of Kiryat Gat.