The Israel Defense Forces announced Wednesday morning that Staff Sergeant Ofri Yafe, 21, from Hayogev, was killed during combat operations in Gaza.

Yafe was a member of the Paratroopers Reconnaissance Unit and was fatally wounded while operating in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.

Preliminary findings suggest that he was struck by friendly fire amid activity in Khan Yunis.

The incident took place at approximately 2:00 a.m. in the area known as the “yellow line” in southern Gaza. Two separate forces from the Paratroopers Brigade were engaged in a standard mission to search and secure buildings. During the course of the operation, one unit mistakenly believed the other to be a hostile force.

As a result of the misidentification, shots were fired at the second unit, leaving Staff Sergeant Yafe critically injured. Medical personnel were rushed to the scene and began evacuating him, but he was pronounced dead during transport before reaching the hospital. The IDF has opened a comprehensive investigation to determine exactly how the fatal error occurred.

Yafe is the fifth Israeli soldier to lose his life in Gaza since the ceasefire that began on October 10, 2025. The others killed in Gaza during this period were Major Yaniv Kula, Staff Sergeant Itay Yavetz, Master Sergeant (Res.) Yona Efraim Feldbaum, and Sergeant Major (Res.) Asael Babad.

Since the war began on October 7, 2023, 925 IDF soldiers have fallen. In total, 2,013 people have been killed since the outbreak of hostilities.

{Matzav.com}