Israeli forces evacuate a wounded soldier from Gaza    ( Photo by AP )

Gaza City, August 24 (RHC)--At least three Israeli troopers have been killed and twelve others injured in fresh retaliatory operations by resistance fighters in war-torn Gaza.

The casualties were confirmed in what the Israeli military described as a "major security incident" in the Gaza Strip, Quds News Network reported on Friday. 

Reports indicate that the operations were carried out in the al-Zeitoun neighborhood in eastern Gaza City amid fierce fighting.   Hamas resistance movement said its fighters engaged in fierce clashes with the enemy forces penetrating south of the Zeitoun neighborhood.

Earlier, Israeli media reported that five Israeli helicopters had landed in hospitals in the occupied territories carrying the casualties. The reports said between 10 to 15 IOF were transferred, including critical cases, after they had been targeted by anti-tank shells.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military on Friday updated its death toll of the Gaza onslaught, saying that 696 soldiers have been killed and 645 others seriously injured.

The occupation forces said 4,357 soldiers and officers have also been injured, including 2,232 during the ground operation in the Gaza Strip.

It said 185 officers and soldiers are still receiving treatment in hospitals, including 21 seriously injured.

The regime is widely accused of under-reporting the number of its casualties in the Gaza war, even by the Israeli media.

In August, Yedioth Ahronoth reported that at least 10,000 Israeli soldiers had been killed or wounded while fighting in Gaza and that about 1,000 new soldiers were physically and mentally wounded every month.