Three Israeli soldiers from the Kfir Brigade were killed on Monday during ongoing military operations against Hamas in the northern Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced. The soldiers were identified as Cpt. Ilay Gavriel Atedgi, 22, Staff Sgt. Netanel Pessach, 21, and Sgt. First Class (res.) Hillel Diener, 21. They were killed by an explosive device in the Beit Hanoun area, following an IDF operation in Beit Lahiya earlier in the week.
With this incident, the total Israeli military toll since the start of the conflict has risen to 391, which includes casualties from ground offensives and other military operations.
In a related operation, the IDF reported the killing of Tharwat Muhammad Ahmad al-Bayk, a senior member of Hamas’s General Security Service, in an airstrike in Gaza City. Al-Bayk was targeted at a command center located within a school that was serving as a shelter for displaced civilians. The strike reportedly resulted in civilian casualties, with at least eight deaths reported.
As the conflict continues, organized looting has emerged as a significant issue, threatening humanitarian aid delivery in Gaza. Armed groups are reportedly taking advantage of the chaos, leading to halted operations by the UN and other aid organizations, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
Additionally, satellite imagery revealed that 100% of the 19,000 buildings in the northern city of Jabalia have been destroyed since the beginning of the IDF’s counter-terrorism operations. The military has also demolished all buildings within one kilometer of the Israeli border to establish a buffer zone.
Israel has been engaged in conflict with Hamas since October 7, 2023, when the group launched a major attack on southern Israel, resulting in significant casualties and hostage-taking. Currently, it is believed that 96 of the 251 hostages taken during that attack remain in Gaza, including at least 34 confirmed dead.
