Two Israeli Reservists Killed in Gaza Drone Accident

Two Israeli reservist soldiers, Master Sergeant Nadav Kali and Master Sergeant Ofek Moalem, were killed in an operational accident in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit announced. The incident occurred Wednesday afternoon when the two soldiers were killed by the explosion of an Israeli military drone at an IDF post in Gaza.

An initial military investigation indicates that the soldiers had been operating two armed drones in the preceding 24 hours. While the first mission was successful, the second drone crashed within the northern Gaza post for reasons still under investigation. The soldiers approached the downed drone, likely touched it, and an explosion occurred, critically injuring them. They received medical treatment at the scene and were later pronounced dead at Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon.

The drone was standard issue and the mission had been pre-approved. The IDF has temporarily halted the use of explosive or payload-carrying drones pending the completion of the investigation. Military assessments suggest the drone did not crash due to Hamas jamming or electronic warfare capabilities.

The drone involved is an "Atalef" model, used by the IDF as a "suicide drone" or for dropping munitions. This incident follows previous fatalities, including Major (res.) Harel Birnstock and Master Sergeant (res.) Tamir Wakinin, who died in Lebanon in August due to an explosive charge in a booby-trapped building. Four other soldiers were seriously injured in that incident.

The last soldier killed in Gaza was Sergeant First Class Ofri Yaffe in February, who died from friendly fire in the Khan Yunis area during a routine building sweep operation. That incident involved a mistaken identification of forces, leading to a deadly exchange of fire.