3 IDF Soldiers Killed in Gaza Tank Blast During Jabalya Operation
Three Israeli soldiers were killed and a fourth seriously wounded on Monday during a military operation in the northern Gaza Strip, when an explosion occurred inside their tank in the Jabalya area. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) identified the fallen as Staff Sgt. Shoham Menahem, 21, from Moshav Yardena; Sgt. Shlomo Yakir Shrem, 20, from Efrat; and Sgt. Yuliy Faktor, 19, from Rishon Lezion—all members of the 52nd Battalion of the 401st Armored Brigade.
The incident took place around noon during an operation aimed at dismantling Hamas infrastructure and defeating local combatants in the Jabalya refugee camp, a long-standing stronghold of the terror group. According to an initial IDF assessment, the explosion may have been caused by an anti-tank missile strike. Later reports indicated the possibility of an internal operational malfunction, with a high likelihood that one of the tank’s own shells detonated prematurely. The precise cause remains under investigation.
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An officer from the same brigade was evacuated in serious condition and is receiving medical treatment.
Monday’s casualties bring the total number of IDF soldiers killed since the start of the war on October 7 to 893. Of those, 451 have fallen since the launch of Israel’s ground campaign in Gaza on October 27. Thirteen soldiers have been killed so far in July, following a surge in losses in June.
Sgt. Shrem is scheduled to be buried Tuesday at the Kfar Etzion military cemetery, according to the Efrat Local Council.
