Israel Says Officer, Three Soldiers Killed in Northern Gaza Battles

The Israeli occupation forces spokesperson announced Tuesday the death of an officer and three soldiers, with an additional officer critically wounded, in ongoing fierce battles in northern Gaza.

The incident, a significant loss for the Israeli occupation forces amid the escalating confrontations, reportedly occurred following an explosion inside a building occupied by Israeli troops in northern Gaza.

The slain soldiers were identified as Captain Yehonatan Keren, aged 22, from Moledet; Staff Sergeant Nisim Meytal, aged 20, from Khodeira; Staff Sergeant Aviv Gilboa, aged 21, from Neve Tzuf; and Staff Sergeant Naor Haimov, aged 22, from Rosh Ha’ayin. All four were part of the elite Multidomain Unit, also known as the “Ghost” Unit, a specialized division within the Israeli occupation forces.

Earlier in October, the Israeli Ministry of Security admitted to the killing of 890 occupation soldiers, police officers, and security personnel since the start of Operation al-Aqsa Flood on October 7 last year. The acknowledgment comes amid tight media restrictions and censorship to conceal “Israel’s” losses.

Among those killed, 835 were male soldiers and 55 were female soldiers. Six brigade commanders with the rank of colonel were eliminated since the beginning of the war, three of whom died in the battles on October 7. Additionally, 240 reservists died in various sectors, along with 217 soldiers.

The confirmed numbers have now risen following Thursday’s operations, which saw the destruction of two more Merkava tanks, confirming casualties among both their crews, the killing and wounding of occupation soldiers at the border in complex ambushes and point-blank confrontations, and the bombardment of soldier gatherings in military sites and bases across the occupied north. 

The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon had previously reported that Israeli losses included more than 70 dead and 600 injured among Israeli occupation officers and soldiers, along with the destruction of 28 Merkava tanks, four military bulldozers, an armored vehicle, and a troop carrier. Additionally, three Hermes 450 drones and two Hermes 900 drones were downed since “Israel’s” attempted ground invasion into Lebanon started.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military reported that more than 50,000 soldiers who weren’t actively serving before the war have returned to duty. However, re-enlisting and summoning tens of thousands of others who completed combat training and were released during downsizing has proven to be challenging, Israel Hayom reported. 

The occupation forces have thus far located only 17,000 of these soldiers. Out of that number, only 4,000 have agreed to return and serve.