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The Israel Defense Forces on Wednesday announced the deaths of three soldiers in fighting in the northern Gaza Strip the previous day, bringing the Israeli death toll in the ongoing ground operation in the Strip to 164.
Escalation is coming to the northern region now that the Gaza operation is reaching its terminal phase.
Hamas has said since the collapse that it will not resume negotiations as long as the fighting continues.
The three men have been identified by Israel as 79-year-old Chaim Peri, 80-year-old Yoram Metzger and 84-year-old Amiram Cooper.
Israel and Hamas ended a week-long cease-fire early in December that included daily exchanges of hostages taken by Hamas in the October attack for prisoners held in Israeli jails.