The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported on Thursday that a military reservist was killed in an “operational accident” on the Gaza border, following a friendly fire incident that claimed the lives of five soldiers the previous day.
Sgt. Maj. (res.) Ran Yavetz, 39, from Modiin, serving with the Bislamach Brigade’s 6828th Battalion, was killed by an explosion from Israeli munitions near the Black Arrow memorial site, located hundreds of meters inside Israel. Four other soldiers sustained light injuries in the accident, which is under investigation.
This comes after the IDF announced that five soldiers were killed and seven others wounded, including three seriously, in a friendly fire incident in northern Gaza’s Jabaliya. The deaths have brought the toll of Israeli troops killed in the IDF’s ground offensive against Hamas to 279, alongside a civilian Defense Ministry contractor. IDF data indicates that at least 50 of these fatalities are due to friendly fire and other accidents, attributed to communication issues and exhaustion among soldiers.
On Thursday, Israeli tanks continued their advance into Jabaliya, facing resistance from Hamas fighters using anti-tank rockets and mortar bombs. The IDF claims to have eliminated many gunmen in Jabaliya but has not provided new updates on the operation.
In Rafah, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced the deployment of more troops to the city amid heavy bombardments. Gallant stated that the operation would continue with additional forces, and several tunnels in the area had been destroyed, with more to follow.
Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri vowed that the group would defend its people “by all means.”
Israel asserts that four of Hamas’s six remaining battalions are now in Rafah, along with hostages taken during the October 7 massacre, but faces international pressure not to invade the city, where hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians are sheltering. Two Hamas battalions remain in central Gaza, in the Nuseirat and Deir al-Balah camps. The UN reports that over 600,000 Gazans have evacuated the city since IDF operations began.
On Thursday, South Africa petitioned the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to halt the IDF’s military campaign in Rafah, alleging genocidal intent against Palestinians. Citing remarks by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich advocating for the “total annihilation” of several Gaza areas, attorney Tembeka Ngcukaitobi presented evidence including a video of IDF soldiers singing about dismantling Rafah. Israel denies the allegations, stating compliance with previous court orders to provide aid.
In Rafah, the IDF reported the discovery and destruction of several rocket launchers and launch sites used in recent attacks on Israeli cities. This development comes amid ongoing efforts to eliminate Hamas following their October 7 attack, which resulted in over 1,200 Israeli deaths and the abduction of 252 hostages.
The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry claims over 35,000 deaths in the fighting, a figure not independently verified and including 15,000 terror operatives killed by Israel. Israel also reports killing around 1,000 terrorists inside its borders on October 7. Indirect talks continue between Israel and Hamas aimed at achieving an extended truce and exchanging hostages for Palestinian prisoners.
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