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IDF confirms names of four soldiers killed in Gaza

The IDF spokesman on Saturday allowed the release of news that three soldiers were killed and seven others injured in an earlier incident in the Zeitun neighborhood of the Gaza Strip.

In addition, Staff Sergeant (Res.) Evyatar Atuar, who was killed in the same incident and whose death the Israel Defense Forces announced on Friday, was killed. Atuar, 24, from Rosh Ha'ayin, served in the 6310th Reconnaissance Battalion of the 16th Brigade.

The incident occurred on Thursday during a divisional operation aimed at expanding control in the central Gaza Strip. The soldiers' mission, according to the IDF, was to locate tunnels and eliminate terrorists.

Sergeant Major (Res.) Danil Pechenyuk, 26, of Bat Yam, served in the 6310th Reconnaissance Battalion of the 16th Brigade.

Sgt.-Maj. (Res.) Nitai Metodi, 23, of Ashkelon, served in the 6310th Reconnaissance Battalion of the 16th Brigade.

Warrant Officer (Res.) Yaniv Itzhak Oren, 35, from Ein Gedi, served in the 8119th Battalion, 16th Brigade.

IDF spokesman R. Adm. Daniel Hagari said in a press conference that the “three were killed by an explosive device during an attack on the Zeitun area. Another IDF soldier was killed in a confrontation with terrorists. Four reserve soldiers, heroes of Israel. May their memory be blessed. We do not forget and must not forget the unbearably high price that many families in Israeli society are paying.

“Over the past week, the Israeli forces have continued fighting on all fronts,” Hagari continued. “In Gaza, the forces of Division 162 are operating in Rafah. Dozens of tunnels have been destroyed. The Israeli forces are active in Khan Yunis and on the outskirts of Deir el-Balah. We are making every effort to bring the hostages home as soon as possible.”

“In the north, the Israeli forces continue to act decisively against Hezbollah. In the last few days, we have attacked 70 terror targets and eliminated over 20 terrorists, including senior members of the rocket force. We are systematically and methodically attacking Hezbollah's capabilities and fighters,” Hagari stressed during the press conference.

Commenting on the incident in which soldiers in Gaza were killed by an explosive device, Hagari said: “The explosive device was not inside the building, but outside in the wall and was detonated from the other side of the wall. Our forces are learning from this operation and applying these lessons. Unfortunately, there are casualties in combat.”

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During one of the brigade's attacks, he said, a reconnaissance unit entered a building with an explosive device hidden in the wall. The team commander entered the building with four soldiers while the rest of the force formed up outside. The explosive device detonated and the impact was felt outside the building. It is estimated that the terrorists used a camera to detonate the explosive device.

Number of fallen IDF soldiers

According to the Israeli military's count, 699 soldiers have been killed since October 7, including 336 since the start of Israeli ground operations in the Gaza Strip on October 27.



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