Israeli soldiers mourn during the funeral of their comrade Moshe Malko at the Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem July 21, 2014.

The Israeli army said Monday seven of its own had been killed in clashes with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, raising the army death toll to 25 in the two weeks of fighting between the two rival sides.

The army did not provide any further details. Local media had said there were a number of casualties when Palestinian fighters slipped under the Gaza border earlier the day via a hidden tunnel.

More than 500 Palestinians have also died in the conflict, most of them children, Gaza health officials say.

Hours later, the Palestinian Qassam Brigades claimed it had killed at least five Israeli soldiers in Khan Younis, an Al Arabiya correspondent reported.

 
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