In a recent intense clash throughout the Gaza Strip, the IDF suffered a heavy toll, with nine soldiers losing their lives in three separate incidents. The most devastating occurred in the central Gaza Strip, where a tunnel blast claimed the lives of six engineering combat forces. These soldiers were engaged in neutralizing a significant Hamas weapons factory when an ignited explosive within the tunnel led to the tragic incident. The fallen soldiers are as follows:
- Dennis Krochmalov Wexler, Captain (Reserves), 32, from Be’er Sheba, an officer in the YAHALOM unit.
- Ron Afrimi, Captain (Reserves), 26, from Hod HaSharon, an officer in the YAHALOM unit.
- Roy Avraham Mymon, First Sergeant Major (Reserves), 24, from Afula, a paramedic, and combat soldier in the YAHALOM unit.
- Amit Shahar, First Sergeant Major (Reserves), 25, from Ramat Yohanan, a combat soldier in the YAHALOM unit.
- Akiva Yassinski, Command Sergeant Major (Reserves), 35, from Ramat Gan, an engineering combat soldier in the Etzioni Brigade.
- Gabriel Bloom, Sergeant Major (Reserves), 27, from Beit Shemesh, an engineering combat soldier in the Etzioni Brigade.
- David Shwartz, Sergeant Major (Reserves), 36, from Elazar, an engineering combat soldier in the 551 brigade.
- Yakir Hechster, Sergeant Major (Reserves), 26, from Jerusalem, an engineering combat soldier in the 551 brigade.
- Roy Tal, Sergeant, 19, from Kfar Yehoshua, a Kfir brigade combat fighter.
May their memory be a blessing. The IDF is actively investigating the incident, and initial findings indicate that it was not a result of negligence or human error. The tragic explosion occurred during a legitimate operation, where combat soldiers acted professionally. The IDF, through a thorough examination of tank data and real-time systems, affirms that the incident stemmed from a clear operational necessity and not from any lapses in procedure.
