IDF announces four soldiers killed in Gaza explosion
The names of two soldiers have not yet been cleared for publication and will be published later. Their families have been notified.
The IDF announced on Friday that four Israeli soldiers were killed and another wounded in Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip, when a bomb detonated, causing a building to collapse on the troops clearing the area.
Five additional soldiers were wounded, one seriously and the rest moderately.
Warrant Officer, (Warr. Ofc.) Chen Gross, and Staff Sergeant (St.-Sgt.) Yoav Raver were named as two of the four wounded.
The names of the two additional soldiers have not yet been cleared for publication and will be published later. Their families have been notified.
Warr. Ofc. Gross, 33, from Gan Yoshiya, served as a reserve soldier in the Maglan Unit, Commando Brigade.
St.-Sgt. Raver, 19, from Sde Warburg, served in the IDF's elite Yahalom unit.
The Drom Hasharon Regional Council expressed deep sorrow and extended condolences to Raver's family.
A reserve officer in the Maglan Unit, Commando Brigade, was severely wounded in the incident, has been evacuated to a hospital to receive medical treatment, and his family has been notified.
The operation took place as part of the IDF's efforts to destroy terror infrastructure in the area, aiming to establish continuous control. The building that the force entered is situated above a tunnel system, so it was necessary to enter and investigate it, Walla reported.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "This is a sad and difficult day. On behalf of all the citizens of Israel, my wife and I send our deepest condolences to the families of our four heroic fighters who fell in Gaza in the campaign to defeat Hamas and return our hostages."
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