Four Israeli soldiers were killed and eight others injured in an explosive device detonation south of Rafah, in an area the Israeli army had declared "completely cleansed" on the road to the supply road near the Philadelphia axis. The incident occurred on September 18th, 2025, during the reporting window, according to an Arabic-language source on X. The Israeli military pocket was reportedly moving in a caravan when the detonation occurred, leading to the destruction of the pocket. One soldier was dismembered, initially leading to confusion about whether they were missing or kidnapped, the source stated. The explosion targeted soldiers in proximity to the Philadelphia axis, south of Rafah. Previous reports from this morning, September 18th, 2025, between 9:16 AM and 9:31 AM UTC, mentioned unspecified unrest in the southern Rafah area, described as an area considered purified. The nature of that incident was not detailed, but this explosion appears to be a significant development in that area. Separately, earlier reports from September 18th, 2025, detailed Israeli Air Force attacks in western Gaza City and the dismantling of a weapons storage facility by the IDF. The IDF also reported eliminating terrorists and dismantling military targets in Khan Yunis and Rafah. These actions occurred amid statements from the Israeli government suggesting the conflict could end if Hamas releases hostages and disarms. Previous reports from August 27th detailed President Donald Trump's approval of Tony Blair's plan for governing Gaza post-war, which includes the establishment of a UN-backed transitional authority, the Gaza International Transitional Authority (GITA).
