Two IDF soldiers killed by IED in tunnel shaft near Rafah

Their deaths bring the total number of troops killed since the Gaza ground operation began on Oct. 27 to 282, and to 630 on all fronts since the start of the war on Oct. 7.

By JNS

Two soldiers from the Israel Defense Forces’ Givati Brigade reconnaissance unit were killed in action in southern Gaza, the army said on Sunday morning.

They were identified as Sgt. First Class Nachman Meir Haim Vaknin, 20, from Eilat; and Sgt. Noam Bittan, 20, from Moshav Yad Rambam.

We are heartbroken to report on the deaths of 2 additional #IDF soldiers: First Sergeant Nachman Meir Haim Vaknin (20) and Sergeant Noam Bittan (20) were killed in #Gaza during this current operation against #Hamas terrorists. May the memories of these brave IDF soldiers forever… pic.twitter.com/vWvMVWXQAE

— StandWithUs (@StandWithUs) May 19, 2024

According to Hebrew media reports, the pair were killed by an explosive device placed in a tunnel shaft east of Rafah, the last Hamas bastion along the Egyptian Sinai border, where the IDF has been operating since earlier this month.

An officer and two other soldiers from the Givate Brigade were seriously wounded in the incident.

Their deaths bring the total number of troops killed since the Gaza ground operation began on Oct. 27 to 282, and to 630 on all fronts since the start of the war on Oct. 7.

Meanwhile, the IDF said that one rocket was launched from the northern Gaza Strip at Sderot in southern Israel on Sunday morning amid a recent uptick in rocket fire from Gaza in recent weeks as the IDF operates in the Jabalia area to quell a Hamas insurgency.

The projectile was intercepted and there were no reports of damage or injuries.

fallen soldierIDFRafahtunnel