Three Givati Brigade soldiers fell in northern Gaza Strip 

The IDF announced Tuesday that Staff Sergeant Lior Steinberg (20) of Petah Tikva, Staff Sergeant Ofek Barhana (20) of Yavne, and Staff Sergeant Omer Van Gelder (22) of Ma’ale Adumim were killed in northern Gaza. All three served in the Givati Brigade’s 9th Battalion: Steinberg and Barhana as combat medics, and Van Gelder as a squad commander.

According to an initial IDF investigation, a Namer armored personnel carrier operated by Givati troops in Jabaliya rolled over a mine and caught fire. The soldiers inside managed to escape unharmed. A second force was dispatched to assist, including a Hummer and a military fire truck. En route to the scene, the Hummer hit another mine, killing the three soldiers and injuring two others.

The area was found to be a large and heavily mined field, prompting combat engineers and sappers to begin extensive clearing operations.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paid tribute to the fallen soldiers: “On behalf of all Israeli citizens, my wife and I send heartfelt condolences to the families of the heroic soldiers… Our hearts ache for the families in their darkest moments. We will forever appreciate the heroism of our soldiers, Lior, Ofek, and Omer. May their memories be blessed and forever in the heart of the nation.”

Since the October 7th massacre, 861 Israeli soldiers have fallen.