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Body of IDF soldier killed on October 7th held by Hamas

The announcement of these two fallen soldiers brings the number of IDF casualties since October 7th to 532.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

The IDF announced the deaths of two soldiers on Sunday night, one of whom was killed on October 7th and whose body is held by Hamas, the other fell fighting Hamas in Gaza.

The death of Staff Sergeant Shay Levinson (19) was confirmed dead on Sunday after the Chief Rabbinate examined all of the evidence.

Levinson was from Giv’at Avni and served in the 77th “Oz” Battalion of the 7th Armored Brigade.

According to witness reports, Levinson was in a tank battling terrorists who infiltrated on October 7th.

He and the other troops managed to eliminate 15 terrorists until Levinson and two other soldiers in the tank, shell-loader Ofir Testa, and tank gunner Ariel Eliyahu, were killed.

Also on Sunday, the IDF confirmed the death of Staff Sergeant (Res.) Uriel Aviad Silberman (23).

Silberman, from Moshav Nahalim, was a reserve combat officer in Battalion 7421, Kirithi Brigade.

Silberman attended Yeshivat Hesder in Itamar, and Rabbi Yehoshua Van Dyk, head of the yeshiva said,”Uriel did not compromise in any area, not in his studies, not in preparing for the army, and not in his willingness to serve and sacrifice for the sanctification of God’s name.”

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Another soldier in Silberman’s battalion was severely injured.

The announcement of these two fallen soldiers brings the number of IDF casualties since October 7th to 532.

The IDF continues its operations in Khan Younis, the location of much of Hamas’ military infrastructure.

Last week, the IDF announced it launched targeted raids on the offices of Hamas leaders in Khan Younis.

The office belonged to a terror battalion commander in the southern part of the city.

The commandos found in the Hamas offices weapons, ammunition, grenades, and surveillance cameras, the latter of which they destroyed.

IDF soldiers neutralized terrorists in close combat when raiding the Hamas offices.