What happened
Master Sergeant (Res.) Shlomo Yehonatan Hazut, a dedicated 36-year-old IDF reserve soldier from Ashdod, tragically lost his life in the Gaza Strip. Hazut was killed by an IED explosion while participating in operations to uncover Hamas tunnels and infrastructure. The attack also injured three additional soldiers, one of them seriously.
Why it matters
Hazut’s death underscores the continuous threats faced by Israel from Hamas militants in Gaza. His sacrifice during this critical mission to dismantle Hamas’s underground operations highlights the ongoing challenges of ensuring the security of Israeli citizens.
The broader context
Hazut is the seventh fallen soldier in Gaza within a four-day span, with the majority of these losses attributed to IEDs. An initial investigation suggests that the IED that killed Hazut was hidden and remotely detonated by terrorists concealed in a tunnel. Since the ground offensive began, the IDF has lost 338 soldiers out of a total of 702 during the broader conflict.
Operation details
During the operation, infantry units were actively searching for hidden Hamas tunnels. The path had been previously cleared by the Engineering Corps’ heavy machinery, yet an IED appeared to have evaded detection. The relentless pursuit to eradicate these threats underscores the risk faced by IDF soldiers.
This story was first published on ynetnews.com.