Deaths of Israeli soldiers in explosion highlight friendly fire accidents in Gaza
A string of friendly fire incidents and accidents have taken the lives of Israeli soldiers since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks.
TEL AVIV — The explosion could be heard across central Gaza.
As they got ready to destroy a Hamas facility used to build rockets, Israeli combat engineers were busy lining the site with explosive charges, making final preparations for a controlled detonation.
And then, according to a statement from the Israel Defense Forces, a nearby tank crew, believing it had spotted Hamas fighters, opened fire. The shell toppled an electricity pole, which fell and triggered the explosives.
Six soldiers were killed and 14 were injured in the explosion on Jan. 8, the IDF said, after television crews inside Gaza captured two gray plumes of smoke towering over the Bureij refugee camp.
Their deaths were the latest in a string of friendly fire incidents and accidents that have killed Israeli soldiers since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks.
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