Seven soldiers were killed when an anti-tank missile fired from a home in Gaza struck their APC on Saturday; others killed in separate firefights with terrorists throughout the Strip
JPOST
Eighteen IDF soldiers have been killed since the start of the ground offensive against Hamas in Gaza in multiple exchanges of fire with Hamas. The majority of the casualties occurred throughout Saturday and Sunday.
The IDF was still completing the process of identifying the fallen soldiers. The families had been notified of the soldiers’ deaths.
Additionally, Col. Rasan Alian, commander of the Golani Brigade, was moderately injured in an exchange of fire in Gaza. He has been hospitalized at the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva Dozens of wounded IDF soldiers were brought from the fighting in Gaza to a number of hospitals across Israel on Sunday morning.In total, fifty three wounded Israeli soldiers have been hospitalized from the fighting in Gaza.
Fifteen soldiers were brought to the Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Campus in Petah Tikva. Four were in serious condition and eleven were in light to moderate condition.
Two lightly injured soldiers were brought to Hadassah University Medical Center in Jerusalem’s Ein Kerem.
Three soldiers were brought in moderate condition to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba. Two others were brought to Soroka with light wounds. Since the ground operation in Gaza began, eleven wounded soldiers have been evacuated to Soroka.
Four wounded soldiers were brought to Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer. Two of the evacuees were in serious condition, one was in serious to moderate condition and another was in moderate condition.
Since the beginning of the ground operation twelve soldiers were evacuated to Sheba.
Large numbers of Ground Forces entered the Gaza Strip overnight between Saturday and Sunday as Israel expanded its operation against Hamas. The increased presence in Gaza is aimed at destroying Hamas infrastructure, the IDF said.
It came after the government decided to move into the next stage of the operation, and after the units sent into Gaza completed intensive training and preparations.
Earlier on Saturday, two soldiers were killed in the Gaza Strip, the IDF announced.
Staff Sergeant Bania Roval, a 20-year-old soldier from Holon, serving in the Paratroopers 101st Battalion, was shot dead by a terrorist in Gaza who emerged from a tunnel shaft and opened fire at soldiers. The terrorist was shot dead in return fire.
“Controlling tunnel shafts doesn’t give us full control of the entire tunnel,” a senior military source said.
The second soldier, 2nd-Lt. Bar Rahav, 21, from Ramat Yishai, from the Engineering Corps, was killed as a result of the activation of the Trophy missile defense system in a nearby tank. The system successfully blocked an anti-tank missile fired at the vehicle, but the soldier was killed in the process. The IDF is investigating.
Also on Saturday, two soldiers were killed by a rocket-propelled grenade while thwarting the attempt to murder Israeli civilians. Their names were Sgt. Adar Barsano, 20, of Nahariya, and Maj. Amotz Greenberg, 45, of Hod Hasharon, the army said.
On Friday, in the IDF’s first casualty, twenty-year-old Sergeant Eitan Barak from Herzliya was killed in Gaza under still unclear circumstances.
Military sources said Hamas gunmen have increased their attacks on soldiers who are searching and finding tunnel entrances in Palestinian homes near the border with Israel. Simultaneously, Hamas has ordered its members to use remaining tunnels for immediate cross-border attacks against Israeli civilians and military targets. Thirteen cross-border tunnels have been destroyed since Thursday night. The air force had struck some 500 targets since the start of the ground operation.
The IDF feels it has gained “significant control” of cross-border attack tunnels, and that this development is “upsetting Hamas,” the source added. Hamas is doing its best to hamper the army’s efforts, and attempts to send a donkey with explosives and a suicide bomber on a motorcycle on Friday are part of those attempts. Hamas is also trying to kidnap soldiers.
Additionally, two terrorists attempted to attack a D-9 armored bulldozer used in uncovering tunnels by the Engineering Corps. In the attack, two terrorists emerged from a tunnel entrance. One, a suicide bomber, detonated his explosives, and the second fired an anti-tank missile. Both were killed in the incident.
yamit82 Said:
I sent you a link about the Texas soldier from Breitbart Texas, did you read the comments, They were very positive towards Israel.
@ BethesdaDog:
All or most of the first line combat vehicles are equipped with “trophy” but budget restrictions keep the rest unprotected. One of the first soldiers killed on Fri night was killed by Friendly fire (Dootz) from Trophy Friendly fire… matter is under investigation.
Soldiers from Texas, California, killed in Gaza combat
Nissim Sean Carmeli, 21, was from South Padre Island, and Max Steinberg, 24, hailed from Los Angeles
Read More
“Moses said to the Children of Gad and the Children of Reuben, ‘Shall your brothers go to war while you stay here? ‘” (Numbers 32:6-7)
“‘… You shall not stand aside while your fellow’s blood is shed — I am HaShem. … You shall love your fellow as yourself — I am HaShem.'” (Leviticus 19:16-18)
yamit82 Said:
I was wondering about why Trophy wasn’t being used. This is despicable. They shouldn’t be sending Israel’s kids out without the best available.
I haven’t followed the Trophy system for years. About 7 or 8 years ago, one of the networks, maybe CBS, ran a couple of news reports on Trophy. At the time, it was not clear that it was purchased by the IDF. The producer of the network reports, incidentally, was Adam Ciralsky, a former CIA attorney who was fired simply on suspicion of loyalty to israel. He sued, and lost, because government agencies have almost unbridled discretion over security clearances.
@ drjb:
Because for the moment, we are at war and praying for our soldiers.
@ yamit82:
Question to my buddy Yamit:
What’s wrong with Feiglin”s pronouncements as showed above by XLucid???
I know you don’t like Feiglin but he’s the only one who consistently speaks what sll of us like to hear. And he’s getting some media traction as well.
Take good care of you and your family. We’re praying here for all of you guys!!
@ XLucid:
Feiglin is right again!!!
why aren’t israelis out on the streets with the same demands???
@ yamit82:
Thanks for checking in, I fret !!!!!!!!
@ XLucid:
@ XLucid:
I agree. Why to fatten cows which are not ours.
Let them beg for what now they get for free. Thirst would make them surrender.
End the ‘Misplaced Pity’ That Endangers Our Soldiers said MK Feiglin.
IDF soldiers warned residents of the Shejaiya neighborhood in Gaza to evacuate the area, providing Hamas with advance information on where the IDF would strike.
As a result, Hamas terrorists had time to prepare to “greet” soldiers, preparing traps, ambushes, and attacks – essentially sacrificing Israeli soldiers for the safety of Gaza civilians.
That, said Likud MK Moshe Feiglin, is unacceptable; Israel should not be sacrificing its soldiers for the safety of Gaza residents, supporters of Hamas who voted to put the terror group in control of Gaza.
“The blood of ours sons is precious and we must not endanger it for nothing,” said Feiglin. “We must force the enemy to surrender. We have to stop supplying them with electricity, food, and all other supplies until they surrender and disarm.
@ yamit82:
I understand the major terrorist are mobilizing by using trucks full of children knowing Israelis will not fire at them. Why not fire at the trucks tires and, when they have not choice but to stop, have the IDF waiting for them. Separate the children and
kill the bastards.
We always protect our children at any cost. The vermin use the children to protect themselves. COWARDS!
Yamit82,
Netanyahu has never withstood pressure. With Ban and Kerry arriving in Israel, he may have to give Hamas what it wants.
If the latest ceasefire happens that satisfies Hamas’ demands, I will not be surprised.
@ bernard ross:
@ NormanF:
Last night at 1am-1:20am
3soldiers killed by friendly fire. 2 inside Israel from attack from infiltrators using one of the tunnels.
The APC where 8 soldiers were killed was an old M113 with light armor and should never have been used at least so close to the front. I used same M113 in Korea. We have better home made APC’s called Namir with anti missile protection (Trophy System). Decision to use those old APC’s should be investigated.
War are never perfectly executed and besides enemy abilities mistakes are made this seems to be one of them.
Israel has already destroyed over 2000 buildings in Gaza mostly from pin point accurate bombing and air to ground missiles. The Shejaiya neigborhood the starting point for many tunnels into Israel and into other neighborhoods in Gaza.
Most of the medium range rockets were also fired from this neighborhood.
BB claims he is under heavy International pressure for cease fire. I think it’s Obama despite his public statements.
Word is BB intends to bypass Egypt’s position and use Bank ki moons visit in two days to arrange a cease fire by agreeing to removing of the blockade for certain conditions: agreeing to releasing some of the Hamas prisoners taken in Y&S a few weeks ago.
If Hamas is still standing at the end of this operation with much if not most of their missiles intact and production facilities and tunnels they will have won again.
Israel will look the to the world and our deterrence what ever is left of it will be gone. Iran and Dash will have taken note as well.
Since they warn the civilians to leave why dont they first bomb and flatten the houses. That will seal any tunnel entrances and save solders lives. After warning civilians to leave they should destroy all the building under suspicion of tunnels. this will have the added effect of not allowing the residents to return.
BB keeps risking Israeli lives to protect the lives of enemy civilians. Instead he should be using more massive bombing. What about the hamas command centers under the hospital, that should be bombed with bunker busters. What about the essential services to these bunkers: electricity, ducts, oxygen, air shafts, etc. I would think that israel should be able to cut some of these and strand them underground with no air, light or water.
BB appears to be avoiding any real destruction of hamas leadership and their command centers. I am not reading of dead hamas leaders, only one. I would have thought that if you first destroyed those you could attend to the tunnels afterwards. It appears that his “deal” with foreign influences allows him only to “pinpoint” target and clear tunnels, costing Israeli lives as usual.
Was that during or after the so-called “humanitarian” ceasefire Israel’s stupid leaders agreed to with Hamas in that area?
If it turns out it was, the country’s leaders should be hanged for treason for shedding Jewish blood.