Three IDF Fighters Killed After Hitting an IED: More Details on the Tragedy

Last week, three Givati Brigade fighters were killed after accompanying a fire truck to extinguish a burning Namer armored personnel carrier in the Jabalia area. The key question looms: why risk soldiers to put out a fire in an already damaged military vehicle?

The IDF told Srugim that the Namer contained significant ammunition, raising concerns of an explosion that could endanger nearby forces. Initial attempts to extinguish the fire with extinguishers and sand failed, leading to the decision to send a convoy of Humvees with a fire truck during daylight. A military source clarified that the route was secured and previously used, but terrorists quickly planted an IED without prior intelligence, resulting in the tragedy.

The incident occurred at the end of Shavuot as the convoy, escorting the fire truck to extinguish the Namer that caught fire that morning, entered the area. After the fire truck returned to Israel, a trap of 20 IEDs was detonated on the convoy. The explosion targeted an open Humvee carrying the three soldiers, killing them. Hamas planned to activate all the IEDs to cause a mass-casualty event.

Following the blast, the Israeli Air Force struck terror infrastructure with drones and fighter jets to extract the convoy and casualties. The fallen soldiers were Lior Steinberg, Ofek Barhana, and Omer Van Gelder, may their memories be a blessing.