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Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Times
British-Israeli soldier killed in explosion in Gaza
A British-Israeli soldier was killed by an explosive device in Gaza on Sunday, marking the deadliest month for soldiers fighting in the Palestinian territory this year. Sergeant Yisrael Natan Rosenfeld, 20, was killed in the city of Jabalia as the military expanded its operation in the north and centre of the Gaza Strip in its efforts to root out Hamas militants. Rosenfeld, who was serving with the Combat Engineering Battalion, moved to Israel with his family 12 years ago from the UK. His sister's husband, also an Israeli soldier, was killed in battle on October 7, 2023, the day of the Hamas attacks that led to the war. A family friend told Haaretz newspaper that Rosenfeld was 'just a lovely, sweet boy who was always smiling'. She said: 'Today our sweet Nathan was taken from us and he is young, very young; this has to stop. Get the soldiers out of there and get the hostages out. Enough … my heart is broken.' He was 20th Israeli soldier killed this month, and the 880th in the Gaza war, by far the deadliest conflict for Israeli soldiers in the country's history. Last week, seven soldiers died in southern Gaza after an improvised bomb was thrown through the hatch of an armoured vehicle, killing everyone inside. The majority of Israelis, about 70 per cent according to polls taken throughout the 20-month conflict, support bringing an end to the war and the return of the remaining 50 hostages, fewer than half of whom are believed to still be alive. Rosenfeld is one of many British-Israelis serving in the Israeli military, and his death brings the toll to at least three killed since October 7 2023. Binyamin Needham, 19, was killed in December 2023 after serving for two days in Gaza. Another British-borne soldier, Nathanel Young, 20, was killed in February last year. Other dual citizens, including Emily Damari, who was freed in January, were kidnapped by Hamas. In April, a British lawyer filed a war crimes complaint against ten UK citizens on military duty in Gaza to the Metropolitan Police, alleging that they intentionally killed civilians and aid workers. The UK allows dual citizens to serve for foreign powers as long as their armed forces are legitimately recognised.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
British soldier, 20, is killed 'by an explosive device' while fighting in Gaza
A British soldier has been killed 'by an explosive device' while fighting in Gaza. Sergeant Yisrael Natan Rosenfeld, 20, from Ra'anana, Israel died on Sunday while fighting with the 601st Combat Engineering Battalion, the Times of Israel reports. The IDF soldier moved from London to Israel with his family 11 years ago, according to the paper, which adds that he has three siblings. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said it is 'looking into reports that an IDF soldier who died in combat in Gaza is a British national'. Israel continues to operate in Gaza, almost two years on from Hamas 's attacks on October 7, 2023. The initial attacks saw thousands of Hamas fighters storm into southern Israel where they killed a reported 1,320 Israelis and took a further 251 hostage. Some 50 hostages remain in captivity in Gaza but 28 of them are believed to be dead. Israel's subsequent strikes on the Gaza Strip have reportedly killed more than 56,000 people and left thousands displaced, wounded and struggling for water, food and healthcare. It comes after the Hamas chief allegedly behind the October 7 attacks was killed by an Israeli airstrike, according to the IDF. In a post on X on Saturday, the IDF reported it 'eliminated' Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa in a targeted airstrike on the Sabra neighbourhood of Gaza on Friday. Describing him as both 'one of the founders of Hamas' military wing' and Hamas itself, it said: 'Issa led Hamas' force build-up, training, and planned the October 7 massacre.' It continued: 'As Head of Combat Support, he advanced aerial & naval attacks against Israelis.' The force has killed several other high-ranking Hamas officials since October 7. The Israeli military said earlier this month it killed the leader of a Palestinian militant group that took part in the October 7 attacks. Asaad Abu Sharia, who led the Palestinian Mujahideen Movement and its armed wing the Mujahideen Brigades, was killed in a joint operation with Israel's Shin Bet internal security agency. His death and that of his brother Ahmed Abu Sharia were announced after it was reported by Gaza's civil defence agency an Israeli airstrike had hit their home in Gaza City's Sabra area. Israel also said at the end of May its forces had killed Hamas' Gaza chief Mohammad Sinwar. He became the leader of the militant group in the Gaza Strip after his older brother Yahya Sinwar was killed last October. The Israeli military said at the time he was the target of a strike on a southern Gaza hospital on May 13. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu then told parliament he had been 'eliminated'. In the last 20 months, repeated US-led attempts at a ceasefire have fallen through but on Friday it emerged that US President Donald Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had agreed on a rapid end to the war in Gaza. They discussed a solution during a phone call after the US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites, Israeli media has reported quoting a source 'familiar with the conversation'. The two leaders agreed that four Arab states, including the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, would jointly govern the strip in place of Hamas, Israel Hayom is reporting. Leaders of the Hamas terror group would be exiled and all hostages released, a source is said to have told the outlet. But it remains unclear how such a proposal would be implemented, with Hamas vowing it will not leave the territory and Arab states repeatedly asserting that they would not step into a governing role. Trump and Netanyahu held the call on Monday a day after US bombers hit nuclear targets in Iran, with a source reportedly describing the call as 'euphoric'. They were joined on the call by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, according to the report. Under the agreement, Palestinians who wished to leave Gaza would be taken in by unnamed states, the men reportedly said, and Saudi Arabia and Syria would establish diplomatic ties with Israel. Israel in turn would express support for a future two-state solution on the condition that the Palestinian Authority bring in reforms, according to the report. The United States would recognise Israeli sovereignty over parts of the West Bank as part of the agreement, it also said. Israel Hayom reports that the 'ambitious' nature of the plan explains Trump's fury over Israel's planned retaliation against Iran for its 'minor' breach of the US-brokered ceasefire on Tuesday. Trump called the Israeli Prime Minister and warned him to 'stop the planes', reportedly telling him he did not understand why Netanyahu was 'disrupting' their agreed upon 'plan for peace' because of a 'small tactical incident'.
