Two IDF Soldiers Killed, Several Wounded in Northern Gaza Battle

By Yoni Weiss

The IDF announced on Motzoei Shabbos that two soldiers were killed in battle in northern Gaza: Staff Sergeant Yair Avitan, Hy”d, 20, from Ra’anana, who served in the 890th Battalion of the Paratroopers Brigade; and Sergeant First Class (Res.) Yakir Shmuel Tatelbaum, Hy”d, 21, from Ma’ale Adumim, who served in the 77th Battalion of the 7th Brigade.

Additionally, the IDF reported that a soldier from the 13th Battalion of the Golani Brigade and a soldier from the Rotem Battalion of the Givati Brigade were severely wounded during combat in northern Gaza. The injured soldiers were evacuated to a hospital for medical treatment, and their families have been notified.

At the end of the week, troops of the 98th Division began operations during the day against terrorists and terrorist infrastructure in the Shejaiya area. The troops are engaged in close-quarters combat and directing aerial fire, having eliminated dozens of terrorists so far.

The 7th Brigade Combat Team led the division, encircling a civilian area that had been converted by Hamas into a terrorist compound. In this area, the troops found observation posts, weapons, enemy drones, and a long-range rocket launcher near schools.

The Paratroopers Brigade Combat Team started operations to clear and dismantle terrorist infrastructure and military buildings in the area, discovering weapons and underground tunnel shafts during their mission.