Four armored soldiers were killed this morning by an explosive device in the Jabalia area, north of Gaza.

Around 5:00 am, in the vicinity of Jabalia, a bomb was thrown at a tank crew returning from the "preparedness with dawn" operation, and shots were also fired at the tank commander, causing a fire to break out and killing all crew members.

Soldiers from the 50th Battalion, part of the armored combat force, who were returning from field activity, spotted 3-4 fighters fleeing the scene.

Initially, it was thought to be an RPG shell, but the force's response - according to a military source - prevented the attackers from entering the nearby fortification.

"The talk is about a difficult incident during the 'preparedness with dawn' operation, amidst a state of high alert in preparation for the army's ground maneuver in Gaza," the source added, noting that the event is still under investigation.

Four military brigades surround Gaza, and the operation has begun in the Zeitoun neighborhood and Jabalia, with preparatory advances for combat inside the sector.