The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that Ofri Yafe, a 21-year-old sergeant from a paratrooper brigade's reconnaissance unit, was killed on 18/2 in southern Gaza following a "friendly fire incident".

According to preliminary investigation results, the incident occurred at 2h when two units from the brigade were conducting a routine patrol near the "Golden Line", which delineates the area controlled by the IDF in the Gaza Strip.

One of the two units "made an error in identifying friend or foe" and opened fire, severely wounding Yafe. The Israeli sergeant was quickly transported by air ambulance to a hospital but died en route due to the severity of his injuries.

Sergeant Ofri Yafe in a photo posted on 18/2. *Photo: IDF*

Yafe is the 5th Israeli soldier killed in the Gaza Strip since the ceasefire agreement between Tel Aviv and the armed group Hamas came into effect in 10/2025. The other soldiers died following attacks carried out by Palestinian gunmen.

According to IDF data, out of the 472 Israeli soldiers killed in the Gaza Strip since the Israeli army launched its ground operation against Hamas, at least 80 cases were due to friendly fire and other incidents.

The IDF suggests there are multiple causes for this situation, including communication breakdowns between units, soldier exhaustion, and non-compliance with regulations.

Both Israel and Hamas continue to accuse each other of violating the ceasefire. The civil defense agency in the Gaza Strip reported on 15/2 that Israeli attacks had killed at least 12 people. According to the health authority controlled by the armed group Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Israel has killed 603 Palestinians and wounded 1,618 since the ceasefire agreement took effect.

Pham Giang (According to AFP, Times of Israel)