IDF reservist killed in northern Gaza by Hamas sniper as ceasefire takes effect

The total number of fallen soldiers since the start of the war now stands at 914.

By Jewish Breaking News

The IDF on Friday morning cleared for publication the death of Sgt. First Class (Res.) Michael Mordechai Nachmani, 26, of Dimona, a technology and maintenance combat soldier with the 614th Combat Engineering Battalion.

Nachmani was killed by Hamas sniper fire on the outskirts of Gaza City’s Shati neighborhood, coinciding with the beginning of the IDF’s withdrawal from the area on Thursday.

The total number of fallen soldiers since the start of the war now stands at 914.

His death comes as Israel marks two years since the October 7 massacre and the war that followed.

This week, the Defense Ministry released updated figures on the fallen and the newly bereaved families as of October 7, 2025.

According to the data, 1,152 members of Israel’s security forces have fallen since October 7, 2023.

Of these, 42% (487) were under the age of 21, and 141 were over 40.

More than 6,500 relatives have joined Israel’s bereaved community, including 1,973 parents, 351 widows, 885 orphans, and 3,481 siblings.

The figures were published by the Defense Ministry’s Department for Bereaved Families, Commemoration and Heritage, encompassing fallen members of the IDF, Israel Police, Shin Bet, local emergency response squads (Ravshatzim), and civilian security teams who fought across Gaza, southern and northern Israel, Lebanon, and Judea and Samaria.

Early Friday morning, the Israeli government approved the framework for the release of all hostages — both living and deceased, the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed.

Ministers Bezalel Smotrich, Orit Strock, Itamar Ben Gvir, Yitzhak Wasserlauf, and Amichai Eliyahu voted against the deal, while Minister Ofir Sofer of the Religious Zionist Party voted in favor.

Following the cabinet’s approval, a ceasefire in Gaza has gone into effect.