Two IDF Soldiers Killed, Several Wounded in Southern Gaza Fighting

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Two Israeli soldiers were killed and at least six others were wounded in separate incidents during fighting in the southern Gaza Strip, the Israeli military said Thursday.

The Israel Defense Forces identified the slain soldiers as Sgt. Yishai Elyakim Urbach, 20, of Zikhron Ya’akov, a member of the Combat Engineering Corps’ 605th Battalion, and Staff Sgt. Yam Frid, 21, of Sal’it, who served in the Golani Brigade’s reconnaissance unit.

Urbach was killed in an incident that left two other soldiers from the 605th Battalion wounded — one seriously and the other moderately, the military said.

Frid was killed in a separate incident in which four additional troops were wounded. Three of them were listed in serious condition, and one was moderately injured.

According to an initial IDF probe of the first incident, Hamas operatives fired an RPG at a building in Rafah’s Jenina neighbourhood, where troops were stationed. The building partially collapsed on the troops, killing Urbach and wounding two others, including one seriously and one moderately.

The second incident took place some two hours later in the same area. According to the investigation an armored personnel carrier was hit by an explosive device, killing Frid and wounding four other soldiers, including three listed in serious condition.

Two months ago, Sergeant Yishai Urbach got married.