Tank Shelling
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) disclosed preliminary findings regarding a fatal blast in the central Gaza Strip that claimed the lives of six combat engineers and injured several others. The incident occurred during the preparation of a Hamas tunnel in Bureij for demolition when explosives detonated prematurely.
According to the IDF’s initial probe, a tank shelling caused the premature explosion of the tunnel system. Combat engineers, rigging the tunnel with explosives, were working on its demolition. Approximately 30 minutes before the planned detonation, a tank fired shells at a nearby building due to perceived suspicious movement. One of the shells hit an electricity pole, triggering the detonating cord prematurely and resulting in the massive explosion of the tunnel system.
Further investigations are ongoing to determine how the tank shelling precisely set off the detonator cord. The six fatalities were identified as Sgt. First Class (res.) Gavriel Bloom, Master Sgt. (res.) Amit Moshe Shahar, Cpt. (res.) Denis Krokhmalov Veksler, Cpt. (res.) Ron Efrimi, Master Sgt. (res.) Roi Avraham Maimon, and Sgt. Maj. (res.) Akiva Yasinskiy. Several others were injured, including entertainer Idan Amedi, who was not in life-threatening danger.
The blast occurred near a Hamas rocket manufacturing plant during a guided tour for reporters. As a result of the incident, three additional soldiers lost their lives in Israel’s ground offensive against Hamas, bringing the toll to 185.
Israel initiated the offensive in response to a Hamas incursion into southern Israel on October 7, resulting in casualties and hostages. The IDF reports over 8,500 operatives killed in Gaza and 1,000 terrorists inside Israel as of October 7. The figures from the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, citing over 23,000 deaths, cannot be independently verified.
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