Four Israeli Soldiers Killed in Southern Gaza Fighting: IDF Reports Increased Hamas Booby-Trapping

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on Wednesday the deaths of four soldiers and injuries to several others during intense fighting in the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday. The casualties include:

• Cpt. Daniel Mimon Toaff, 23, a deputy company commander in the Givati Brigade’s Shaked Battalion, from Moreshet
• Staff Sgt. Agam Naim, 20, a paramedic with the 401st Armored Brigade’s 52nd Battalion, from Mishmarot
• Staff Sgt. Amit Bakri, 21, of the Givati Brigade’s Shaked Battalion, from Yoshivia
• Staff Sgt. Dotan Shimon, 21, of the Givati Brigade’s Shaked Battalion, from Elazar

Their deaths bring the total number of Israeli casualties in the ongoing ground offensive against Hamas and related military operations to 348. This figure includes a police officer killed during a hostage rescue and a civilian Defense Ministry contractor.

Naim’s death is notable as she was the first female soldier killed during the IDF’s current ground offensive. Female soldiers were among the casualties in Hamas’s initial attack on October 7, which resulted in over 1,200 deaths, primarily civilians, and 251 hostages taken to Gaza.

The IDF’s preliminary investigation indicates that the four soldiers were killed after entering a booby-trapped building in the Tel Sultan neighborhood of Rafah. The military is still investigating the circumstances of the incident.

The attack underscores the increasing risks posed by Hamas’s tactics. IDF officials reported that Hamas operatives have extensively booby-trapped homes and set up ambushes in tunnels throughout Rafah.

This strategy has complicated operations, with entire neighborhoods being rigged with explosives rather than isolated buildings.

The IDF’s recent operations in Rafah have claimed significant Hamas casualties, with the military declaring the defeat of Hamas’s Rafah Brigade after killing at least 2,308 operatives and destroying over 13 kilometers of tunnels. Despite this, officials warn that smaller terror cells may persist and continue to pose threats.

In another development, an officer in the Givati Brigade’s Reconnaissance Unit was seriously injured by RPG fire in Rafah on Tuesday.

The ongoing conflict, which began with a severe Hamas assault on October 7, has seen significant casualties on both sides.

According to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, over 41,000 people are reported dead or missing in Gaza, though this figure is unverified and does not differentiate between civilians and fighters. Israel has reported killing around 17,000 combatants and an additional 1,000 terrorists during the initial assault.

The IDF emphasizes its efforts to minimize civilian casualties, accusing Hamas of using civilian infrastructure as cover for its operations.

The conflict has drawn international concern, with various reports highlighting the challenging conditions faced by civilians in Gaza amid the fighting.