The war has taken its toll on the terrorists far more than it has on Israel at this point. Their power base in Gaza is 95% gone. Only American money and supplies keeps Hamas alive now as they need not feed any people, and their resources can be freed up to kill more Jews. This is what terrorists do. Their goal is Israel’s destruction. They care not for civilian casualties, and they definitely don’t care for Israeli forces.
On Saturday morning, a significant incident in the Gaza Strip’s southern Rafah region resulted in the deaths of eight Israeli soldiers, marking it the most severe event for the Israel Defense Forces in the area since January. The military identified six of the soldiers by Sunday morning:
- Sgt. Or Blumovitz, 20, from Pardes Hanna-Karkur.
- Sgt. Oz Yeshaya Gruber, 20, from Tal Menashe.
- Cpt. Wassem Mahmoud, 23, from Beit Jann, serving as a deputy company commander.
- Sgt. Eliyahu Moshe Zimbalist, 21, from Beit Shemesh.
- Sgt. Itay Amar, 19, from Kochav Yair.
- Sgt. Stanislav Kostarev, 21, from Ashdod.
These soldiers were part of the Combat Engineering Corps’ 601st Battalion. The names of the two additional soldiers who were killed were set to be released later following notification of their families.
❗🇵🇸⚔️🇮🇱 – An explosion in Rafah in southern Gaza killed eight Israeli soldiers in a Namer armored combat engineering vehicle, raising the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) death toll to 307 in the ground offensive against Hamas and operations throughout from the Gaza border.
The… pic.twitter.com/5e1tiV6Hgb
— 🔥🗞The Informant (@theinformant_x) June 15, 2024
The incident occurred when their convoy, part of an operation against Hamas in Rafah’s Tel Sultan neighborhood, was struck by an explosion. This operation had resulted in the death of approximately 50 gunmen, according to IDF reports. The armored vehicle, known as a Namer, which was fifth or sixth in the line, suffered a major explosion, resulting in no survivors from within the vehicle.
The cause of the explosion is under investigation, with initial probes suggesting it might have been a pre-planted bomb or an explosive device directly attached by Hamas operatives. There’s also an investigation into whether an anti-tank missile hit the vehicle or if externally stored explosives on the vehicle contributed to the intensity of the blast.
This tragic incident was part of a broader series of engagements in the Gaza Strip, which also saw the death of Sgt. Yair Roitman, 19, from the Givati Brigade’s reconnaissance unit, who succumbed to injuries from a prior encounter. Roitman was wounded during a blast in a booby-trapped building, an event that also resulted in the deaths of four other soldiers.
Utterly heartbreaking news. Eight IDF soldiers were killed in a blast in Rafah. The troops were inside an armored combat engineering vehicle that was hit by a major explosion.
Only one of the soldiers is named. Cpt. Wassem Mahmoud, age 23. May his memory forever be a blessing🕯️ pic.twitter.com/bk7ZllvJ9Q
— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) June 15, 2024
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant expressed deep sorrow over these events, emphasizing the “heartbreaking price” in what Netanyahu described as a “just war of defense of the homeland.”
In related military activities, IDF troops conducted raids in Rafah targeting terror group sites, resulting in several gunmen killed and the seizure of weapons. Additionally, rocket attacks from Gaza into Israeli territory continued, with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad claiming responsibility for launching multiple rockets towards military and civilian areas, though no casualties were reported from these specific attacks.
8 Soldiers with the Combat Engineering Corps of the Israel Defense Force were Killed earlier today, after a Massive Explosion in the City of Rafah caused the Total Destruction of their “Namer” Armored-Personnel Carrier (APC). The Cause of the Explosion is currently Unknown,… pic.twitter.com/WQ2mzMrR7w
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 15, 2024
Hamas must be defeated, as Netanyahu realizes. Yet he faces not only the terrorists, but the U.S. Administration that is financially supporting the terrorists so they can kill more Jews, Israel faced such a regime in America from Obama as well, when every move made was to help all of those that want Israel destroyed. As of 6/16. Netanyahu has his marching orders from Biden and the Deep State. They tell him to do as they say, and let the terrorists survive, or a color revolution will engulf Israel and he will be ousted. What happens next, is anyone’s guess. What will happen once Trump gets back into the White House, is Israel will then be allowed to win, and destroy Hamas.
Major Points:
- Eight Israeli soldiers were killed in a blast in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, marking the deadliest incident for the Israel Defense Forces in the enclave since January.
- The soldiers, part of the Combat Engineering Corps’ 601st Battalion, were traveling in a convoy during an operation against Hamas when their armored vehicle was struck.
- Initial investigations suggest the explosion could have been caused by a pre-planted bomb, a direct attack with an explosive device, or an anti-tank missile.
- The incident followed a successful overnight IDF operation in Rafah that killed approximately 50 gunmen.
- The ongoing conflict includes broader military engagements and rocket attacks, with Israel committed to dismantling Hamas’s capabilities while negotiating for a truce and the release of hostages.
Al Santana – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
