What it is about:
Two Israeli reservists lost their lives over the weekend when their tank was attacked in northern Gaza. Additionally, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) named five soldiers killed in a separate incident in southern Gaza.
Why it matters:
The tragic losses underscore the ongoing violent conflict Israel faces in its efforts to combat Hamas. This struggle is essential for safeguarding its citizens and maintaining national security, reinforcing the commitment of countless soldiers who continue to defend the state of Israel.
The Details:
Cpt. (res.) Eitan Koplovich, 28, from Jerusalem, and Warrant Officer (res.) Elon Weiss, 49, from Psagot were killed after an explosive device detonated against their tank. Initial investigations reveal both soldiers served in the 8th Reserve Armored Brigade’s 129th Battalion. Two other soldiers in the tank sustained serious injuries.
National Toll:
The deaths raised the toll of IDF troops killed since the ground offensive against Hamas began to 311. This count includes a police officer lost during a hostage-rescue mission, and a civilian Defense Ministry contractor killed in the Gaza Strip.
Additionally Released Names:
Furthermore, early Sunday, the IDF named five of eight combat engineers killed in a blast in southern Gaza’s Rafah. The listed fallen soldiers were:
Sgt. Eliyahu Moshe Zimbalist, 21, from Beit Shemesh; Sgt. Itay Amar, 19, from Kochav Yair; Sgt. Stanislav Kostarev, 21, from Ashdod; Sgt. Or Blumovitz, 20, from Pardes Hanna-Karkur; and Sgt. Oz Yeshaya Gruber, 20, from Tal Menashe.
According to an initial IDF evaluation, these soldiers – all members of the Combat Engineering Corps’ 601st Battalion – were inside a Namer armored combat engineering vehicle (CEV) at the time. No survivors emerged from the attack, and among the dead included Cpt. Wassem Mahmoud, previously named on Saturday.
Additional Casualty:
Among other developments, Sgt. Yair Roitman, 19, from Karnei Shomron, succumbed to injuries sustained earlier this week in Rafah after being wounded in a blast on June 10, significantly felt through another challenging period for Israeli troops.
Ongoing Conflict:
The war in Gaza was ignited by the atrocious October 7 attack, where Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel, killing approximately 1,200 civilians, and abducting 251 people. Hamas’s own reported death toll exceeds 37,000 since then, although this figure encompasses both civilians and combatants.
Israel’s Resolve:
Israel remains steadfast in its objective to eradicate Hamas to safeguard its citizens and ensure that the terrorist group can no longer pose a threat. Meanwhile, Israel is engaged in indirect conversations to achieve extended truces and secure the release of 116 hostages, alongside the remains of two fallen IDF soldiers held by Hamas since 2014.
This story was first published on timesofisrael.com.