Updating our earlier story on the fighting in Gaza, six IDF soldiers were killed in an explosion in Gaza, and three more were killed in fierce clashes in the southern part of the Strip, the Israeli army said today.
This event unfolded despite indications from military leaders that combat was gradually de-escalating after more than three months of conflict.
The development occurred on the same day that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in the region, engaging in discussions about Israel’s transition to a new phase in the ongoing conflict.
The Israel Defense Forces claimed control over northern Gaza but faced continued resistance in central Gaza and Khan Younis in the south, where operations were expanding.
The fatalities have brought the total toll of Israel’s offensive to 185 since the war in the Strip in late October.
The army reported that the six reservists, all combat engineers, lost their lives when explosives, intended for tunnel demolition, detonated during activity in central Gaza’s al-Bureij refugee camp.
The incident, which is under investigation by the IDF, happened near a Hamas rocket manufacturing plant being toured by officers and reporters.
The six soldiers were identified as Sgt. First Class (res.) Gavriel Bloom, Master Sgt. (res.) Amit Moshe Shahar, Cpt. (res.) Denis Krokhmalov Veksler, Cpt. (res.) Ron Efrimi, Master Sgt. (res.) Roi Avraham Maimon, and Sgt. Maj. (res.) Akiva Yasinskiy.
Several others were injured, some seriously, in the explosion, including entertainer Idan Amedi, a popular singer and actor from the show “Fauda.”
In Khan Younis, Sgt. First Class (res.) David Schwartz and Sgt. First Class (res.) Yakir Hexter, both 26, were killed in a rocket-propelled grenade attack. Another soldier from the paratrooper force was seriously wounded.
Meanwhile, in southern Gaza, Sgt. Roi Tal, a 19-year-old infantryman from Kfar Yehoshua, lost his life during a battle with Hamas terrorists.
Hashem yikom domom.
May we hear of no further tzaar.
{Matzav.com Israel}
BDE. HYD.