The soldiers had been planting explosives as part of a plan to demolish Palestinian neighborhoods close to the border, according to several Israeli officials and an officer.
The Israeli military suffered its highest one-day death toll since invading Gaza, adding to the challenges Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces over the war with Hamas.
At the European Union’s headquarters in Brussels, officials were confused by Israel’s presentation and pressed for recognition of the importance of moving toward a Palestinian state.
Israel is facing questions over the death toll and the fate of hostages. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also refused to consider Palestinian statehood, at odds with his allies abroad.
President Biden’s Middle East coordinator, Brett McGurk, will meet with Egyptian and Qatari leaders in hopes of making progress toward freeing captives held by Hamas.
The attack in Iraq came hours after Iran accused Israel of launching an airstrike on the Syrian capital, the latest sign of the regional turmoil rippling out from Gaza.