An IDF officer from the Paratroopers Brigade was killed overnight Monday during operations in the northern Gaza Strip, the army announced on Tuesday. He was identified as Capt. Yonatan Natanel, 27, from Kedumim.
The IDF was looking into the circumstances of the death, and was reportedly investigating the possibility that the soldier may have been killed by an errant tank shell.
Should the possibility turn out to be true, the case would mark the second friendly-fire incident of the night. Hours earlier, during separate clashes in northern Gaza, three IDF soldiers were killed and two dozen wounded when a tank shell destroyed a house that they were using for cover.
All of the casualties in the earlier incident were members of the Golani Brigade, including Golani Infantry Brigade Commander Col. Avi Peled, who was lightly wounded.
Should the possibility turn out to be true, the case would mark the second friendly-fire incident of the night. Hours earlier, during separate clashes in northern Gaza, three IDF soldiers were killed and two dozen wounded when a tank shell destroyed a house that they were using for cover.
All of the casualties in the earlier incident were members of the Golani Brigade, including Golani Infantry Brigade Commander Col. Avi Peled, who was lightly wounded.
One of the fatalities was identified Tuesday morning as Yousef Moadi, 19, from Haifa. He will be laid to rest at 3 p.m. Tuesday in the Druse village of Yirka. The other two were identified as Maj. Dagan Wartman, 32, from Ma'aleh Michmash, who served as the doctor for Golani 13th Battalion, and St.-Sgt. Nitai Stern, 21, from Jerusalem.
According to reports, a force from the battalion came under heavy mortar fire in Saja'iya and entered a nearby home for cover.
According to reports, a force from the battalion came under heavy mortar fire in Saja'iya and entered a nearby home for cover.
