20 Israeli Soldiers Killed in Gaza Strip Ground Offensive, 13 from Friendly Fire and Other Accidents

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported Tuesday that of the 105 Israeli soldiers killed since the start of the ground offensive in the Gaza Strip in late October, 20 died from friendly fire and other accidents.

The IDF said 13 of the deaths were caused by friendly fire, or internal fire from the military’s own troops, while the remaining seven were caused by other accidents related to “weaponry, machinery, and trampling.”

The IDF also said two hostages were recovered during an operation in the Gaza Strip on December 12. One of the hostages, Dado, was a soldier in the Israeli military and a logistics supervisor in the Golani Brigade’s 51st Battalion.

The IDF said the incidents of soldiers killed by friendly fire were due to mistaken identification in airstrikes, tank shelling, and gunfire.

The IDF has not released the names of the soldiers killed in the friendly fire incidents, but said it is conducting an investigation into the circumstances of the deaths.

The ground offensive in the Gaza Strip has been ongoing since late October, and the IDF said it is committed to ensuring the safety of its soldiers. The IDF has urged its troops to exercise caution and vigilance in order to prevent any further casualties.