Two IDF Reservists Killed in Gaza Drone Accident
Two Israeli reservist soldiers were killed Thursday afternoon in an operational accident in northern Gaza when a military drone exploded inside their post. The fallen soldiers were identified as Master Sergeant (Res.) Nadav Kali, 24, from Har Halutza, and Master Sergeant (Res.) Ofek Moalem, 23, from Jerusalem. Both served as a sergeant and squad leader in the 7007th Battalion of the 16th Brigade.
An initial investigation indicates the soldiers were operating armed "Atalef" model drones, which can be used for dropping munitions or as kamikaze drones. The mission was pre-approved and conducted with standard equipment. The first drone deployment was successful, but during the second flight, the drone crashed inside the post for reasons yet to be determined. The soldiers approached the crashed drone, likely touched it, and then it exploded. They sustained critical injuries, received field treatment, and were evacuated to Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon, where they were pronounced dead.
Following the fatal incident, the IDF decided to halt the use of explosive or munition-dropping drones pending the completion of a full operational investigation. Current military assessments rule out any involvement by terrorist organizations, suggesting the crash was not caused by Hamas jamming or electronic warfare. The last soldier killed in Gaza was in February, when Sergeant Major Ofri Yaffe was killed by friendly fire near Khan Younis during a firefight between two IDF units.
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