JERUSALEM: Two Israeli soldiers, who were wounded in and near the Gaza Strip earlier this week, died on Saturday, bringing to 42 the number of Israeli soldiers killed since the start of military operations in the Palestinian territory, the army said.

Infantry Captain Liad Lavi, 22, was wounded on Thursday south of the Gaza Strip while infantry Sergeant Rami Chalon, 39, was hurt two days earlier at the border with the enclave, the army said in a statement.