IDF Announces Deaths of Five Soldiers Killed In Gaza

The IDF released for publication on Friday the tragic deaths of another five IDF Soldiers killed fighting Hamas terrorists inside Gaza.

Sergeant Itai Saadon, 21, from Mehr Halutz, a tank commander in the 52nd Battalion, was killed in battle in the northern Gaza Strip.

Captain Benny Weiss, 22 years old, from Haifa, platoon commander in the 195th Battalion, 460th Brigade.

Major (res.) Oriya Mesh, 41 years old, from Telamon, armored fighter in the 52nd Battalion, 401st Brigade.

Major (Res.) Yonatan Yosef Brand, 28 years old, from Jerusalem, armored fighter in the 52nd Battalion, 401st Brigade.

Major General (Res.) Gil Pishitz, 39 years old, Mahreesh, tank driver in the 9th Battalion, 401st Brigade.

In addition, an IDF fighter from Battalion 52, Brigade 401 and an IDF reserve fighter from Battalion 7008, Brigade 551 were seriously injured.

The total number of soldiers killed since the start of the IDF’s ground incursion into Gaza is 24.

IDF fighters continue to uncover and destroy combat tunnels of the terrorist organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip, IDF spokesperson says.

The fighters of the Yalam unit, in cooperation with engineering fighters from Battalion 7107, the Nahal Brigade, the Negev Brigade and armored forces, in a variety of special activities, uncovered and neutralized active combat tunnels of the Hamas organization in the Gaza Strip.

The fighters uncovered shafts, planted explosives, trapped and neutralized tunnels in the territory of the Gaza Strip.