IDF Death Toll During Gaza Operation Surpasses 50
by JNS.org
JNS.org – Ten Israeli soldiers were killed during a spate of deadly Hamas attacks on Monday, raising the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) death toll during Operation Protective Edge to 53.
On Monday night, a group of Hamas terrorists infiltrated into Israel through a tunnel under the border near Nahal Oz. The terrorists fired an anti-tank missile at an IDF position, killing five soldiers. In an ensuing exchange of fire, one of the terrorists was killed, while the rest escaped back to Gaza, Israel Hayom reported.
The terrorists reportedly tried to abduct the body of one of the dead soldiers, but this attempt was thwarted. The IDF soldiers killed in the incident were identified as Sgt. Daniel Kedmi, 18; Sgt. Barkey Ishai Shor, 21; Sgt. Sagi Erez, 19; Sgt. Dor Dery, 18, and Sgt. Nadav Raimond, 19.
Earlier on Monday, a mortar shell fired from Gaza struck an IDF staging area near the border in the Eshkol region. Four soldiers, all from the Armored Corps, were killed. They were identified as Staff Sgt. Eliav Eliyahu Haim Kahlon, 22; Staff Sgt. Adi Briga, 23; Cpl. Meidan Maymon Biton, 20; Cpl. Niran Cohen, 20.