A deadly hidden explosive in Rafah claims the life of a reservist, as new details emerge on accidental deaths of young soldiers in Khan Yunis and Jabaliya, pushing the total fallen to 895.
The grim toll in Gaza continues to climb as the IDF today cleared for publication the death of Sergeant Major (res.) Vladimir Loza, 36, of Ashkelon, who tragically fell during combat in the southern Gaza Strip. Loza, a soldier in the 5th Brigade’s 7020th Battalion, was killed battling terrorists in Rafah’s Janinia neighborhood, an area previously “cleared” multiple times. In a horrifying turn, during operations to destroy terrorist infrastructure, troops entered a seemingly innocuous structure. As one soldier moved an object, an explosive device, seemingly motion-activated, detonated, causing a wall to collapse and instantly killing Vladimir. Two of his comrades were wounded and rushed to the hospital.
This devastating incident follows closely on the heels of other shocking revelations. On Monday, the IDF confirmed the death of Staff Sergeant Amit Cohen, 19, from Holon, a Golani Brigade soldier. Cohen was killed in a building explosion in Khan Yunis, an incident the IDF is now investigating, with initial findings pointing to a tragic operational accident. An officer was also severely injured.
Further compounding the grief, last week saw the loss of three more young lives: Staff Sergeant Shoham Menahem, 21, from Yardena; Sergeant Shlomo Yakir Shrem, 20, from Efrat; and Sergeant Yuliy Faktor, 19, from Rishon LeZion. These soldiers from the 401st Brigade’s 52nd Armored Corps Battalion fell during an offensive in Jabaliya. An inquiry into their deaths revealed a catastrophic explosion within their Merkava tank, caused when a loader inadvertently ignited a shell placed between his legs. Despite the horrific outcome, the inquiry commendably found that the entire tank crew acted appropriately under the circumstances.
The constant flow of these grim updates brings the total number of fallen soldiers since the war began to a staggering 895. Each loss is a stark reminder of the immense human cost of this conflict, where dangers lurk not only from direct enemy fire but also from hidden traps and unforeseen operational accidents.
