Five Israeli troops were killed by friendly fire
Five troops were killed and seven more were wounded in a friendly fire incident that occurred in northern Gaza on Wednesday, according to a statement released by the Israel Defense Forces early on Thursday morning.
The event happened at the camp for refugees in Jabalya, which Hamas has been attempting to reorganize. After preliminary investigation, it was discovered that two rounds from a tank were fired at a structure containing troops from the 202nd Battalion of the Paratroopers Brigade.
The tanks had been informed by the troops that they would be setting up shop inside the structure. Later that night, the tank crews mistakenly thought that the gun barrels, which they had seen through one of the building’s windows, belonged to armed terrorists and fired two rounds at them.
Cpt. Roy Beit Yaakov, 22, Staff Sgt. Gilad Arye Boim, 22, Sgt. Daniel Chemu, 20, Sgt. Ilan Cohen, 20, and Staff Sgt. Betzalel David Shashuah, 21, were among those killed in the event.
Three of the seven more troops who were wounded were critically hurt.
The event is still being investigated, according to the IDF.
On October 7, Hamas attacked Israeli villages close to the Gaza border, resulting in at least 1,200 deaths and the kidnapping of 240 Israelis and foreigners. Of the 132 captives still alive, around 30 are thought to be dead.
