play_arrow

keyboard_arrow_right

Listeners:

Top listeners:

skip_previous skip_next
00:00 00:00
playlist_play chevron_left
volume_up
  • cover play_arrow

Seven Israeli Soldiers Killed in Gaza Ambush as Conflict Grinds On

Background

by Worthy News Jerusalem Bureau Staff

(Worthy News) – Seven Israeli soldiers were killed Tuesday when their armored combat engineering vehicle was struck by an explosive device in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis–marking one of the deadliest incidents for Israeli forces in months.

According to an initial investigation by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), a Hamas militant planted the explosive on a Puma armored vehicle operated by the 605th Combat Engineering Battalion. The blast ignited a fire that engulfed the vehicle, and all seven soldiers inside perished. Rescue helicopters and emergency crews were dispatched but were unable to save the trapped soldiers. The charred remains of the vehicle were later extracted from Gaza.

The fallen soldiers were identified as:

  • Lt. Matan Shai Yashinovski, 21, of Kfar Yona
  • Staff Sgt. Ronel Ben-Moshe, 20, of Rehovot
  • Staff Sgt. Niv Radia, 20, of Elyakhin
  • Sgt. Ronen Shapiro, 19, of Mazkeret Batya
  • Sgt. Shahar Manoav, 21, of Ashkelon
  • Sgt. Maayan Baruch Pearlstein, 20, of Eshhar
  • Staff Sgt. Alon Davidov, 21, of Kiryat Yam

All served in the 605th Battalion.

Hamas claimed responsibility for the deadly ambush. In a separate incident nearby, two other soldiers were wounded–one seriously–when their D9 armored bulldozer came under RPG fire.

The deaths brought the number of Israeli troops killed in Gaza and along the border since ground operations began to 440. More than 860 Israeli soldiers have died since Hamas launched its surprise October 7, 2023 assault, which killed 1,200 people and saw 251 others taken hostage.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed condolences, calling the fallen “heroic soldiers” who gave their lives “to defeat Hamas and free our hostages.” Defense Minister Israel Katz echoed this, praising their mission and sacrifice. President Isaac Herzog mourned the loss, writing on X that “the burden is unbearable” and offering prayers for the wounded.

The Kfar Yona Municipality, mourning Lt. Yashinovski, said it would remember “his smile, his values and his huge love for Israel.”

The incident has drawn renewed attention to the grueling conflict with Hamas, just as a 12-day war with Iran came to a halt under a fragile ceasefire.

Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.


Latest News from Worthy News

Thousands Brave Rain For Pro-Israel Rally In Amsterdam; 13 Protesters Arrested
Thousands Brave Rain For Pro-Israel Rally In Amsterdam; 13 Protesters Arrested
Saturday, September 19, 2026

Thousands of people, many of them Christians, braved the rain at Amsterdam’s central Dam Square for a pro-Israel rally, while police arrested more than a dozen pro-Palestinian protesters who attempted to disrupt the gathering.

Trump Announces Landmark Greenland Security Agreement
Trump Announces Landmark Greenland Security Agreement
Saturday, September 19, 2026

President Donald Trump announced a sweeping security agreement with Denmark and Greenland that would grant the United States permanent military rights on the strategically important Arctic island. The agreement strengthens America’s northern defenses without transferring ownership of Greenland to the United States.

Ireland Boycotts Eurovision 2027 Over Israel’s Participation
Ireland Boycotts Eurovision 2027 Over Israel’s Participation
Saturday, September 19, 2026

Organizers were weighing their options after Ireland joined the Netherlands in boycotting the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest over Israel’s participation, deepening divisions surrounding one of the world’s most watched music events, which attracted about 131 million television viewers last year.

Algerian Police Raid Christian Gathering, Arrest 12 Believers
Algerian Police Raid Christian Gathering, Arrest 12 Believers
Friday, September 18, 2026

Algerian special police forces have raided a Christian gathering and detained 12 believers, adding to concerns about religious freedom in the predominantly Muslim North African nation, Christians told Worthy News.

Nigeria State Cracks Down On Unauthorized Sharia Police Amid Deadly Attacks
Nigeria State Cracks Down On Unauthorized Sharia Police Amid Deadly Attacks
Friday, September 18, 2026

Authorities in Nigeria’s predominantly Christian Plateau State have ordered a crackdown on an unauthorized Islamic religious police group attempting to enforce aspects of Sharia, or Islamic law, amid broader concerns about pressure on Christians and fresh deadly violence in Nigeria’s troubled Middle Belt region.

Ukraine Reshuffles Eastern Command As Zelenskyy Trust Holds At 54 Percent
Ukraine Reshuffles Eastern Command As Zelenskyy Trust Holds At 54 Percent
Friday, September 18, 2026

Major General Viktor Nikoliuk has resigned as commander of Ukraine’s Eastern Operational Command amid a broader military personnel shake-up, as Kyiv seeks to strengthen its air defenses against intensifying Russian attacks.

UN Allows Abbas Video Address After U.S. Denies Visa
UN Allows Abbas Video Address After U.S. Denies Visa
Thursday, September 17, 2026

The U.N. General Assembly voted Thursday to let Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas address next week’s gathering by video after the United States denied him a visa for the second year in a row. The measure passed 152–3, with four abstentions. The United States, Israel and Paraguay voted against it.

WHO WE ARE

The Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs encapsulate the beauty, wisdom, and eternal truths found in the Bible, creating an immersive experience that resonates with believers and seekers alike.

CONTACT