A 23-story Mandarin Oriental hotel on Brickell Key in Miami was demolished in a controlled implosion that took under 20 seconds, clearing the site for future development, with exclusive video capturing the event.
21 Israeli reserve soldiers were killed while attempting to rig two buildings in southern Gaza with mines for a controlled demolition, with the Israeli military justifying the action as a security measure for nearby Israeli settlements. This incident marks the largest known loss of troops for the Israeli military in a single event. The Israeli military's systematic destruction of areas in Gaza has raised questions about its objectives and effectiveness in the ongoing conflict with Hamas and other Palestinian guerrillas. Meanwhile, the civilian casualties in Gaza continue to mount, with thousands dead or wounded and many trapped under rubble, while receiving little media coverage.