Reserve Soldier Killed in Rafah During Ceasefire: IDF Identifies Sgt. Efi Feldbaum Father of Five

A reserve IDF soldier was killed on Tuesday afternoon in the Rafah area when terrorists opened fire on an IDF engineering unit during ongoing operations to clear infrastructure and demolish buildings.

The victim, Sergeant Efi (Yona Ephraim) Feldbaum, 37, a fighter in the TMA Battalion of the Gaza Division, and a father of five from the community of Zeit Ra’anan in the Binyamin Regional Council, was pronounced dead after being struck by gunfire on an IDF excavator. The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit confirmed his death and said he was operating “as part of an engineering team working under the ceasefire framework.”

Gunfire and Anti-Tank Attack During Ceasefire

The shooting occurred around 4:00 p.m., when terrorists opened fire on an IDF excavator and a nearby building. Minutes later, an anti-tank missile was launched at another IDF vehicle — causing no casualties.
Both incidents took place while Nahal Brigade units were conducting engineering and demolition operations in Rafah.

Following the attack, the IDF launched air and artillery strikes on buildings and tunnel shafts in the area.

Trump: “Israel Has the Right to Respond”

During his visit to Asia, U.S. President Donald Trump commented on the attack aboard Air Force One, saying that Israel has the right to defend itself.

“Nothing will jeopardize the ceasefire,” Trump said. “If Hamas doesn’t behave properly, they will be eliminated. As I understand it, they killed an Israeli soldier. So the Israelis hit back — and they had to hit back.”

Sources in Jerusalem say Washington is considering an American-led initiative to expand IDF-controlled zones beyond the Yellow Line, targeting Hamas positions while maintaining the ceasefire framework.

Hamas Denies Responsibility

In response to the incident, Hamas issued a statement denying any involvement, saying,

“We have no connection to the Rafah shooting and remain committed to the ceasefire agreement.”

Shortly afterward, the group withdrew its offer to return the body of a deceased hostage it claimed to have located earlier in the day, citing “Israeli violations.”

An Israeli security source told reporters that Jerusalem is exercising restraint:

“We gave Hamas the option to return the dead, and they chose not to. There will be consequences for that decision.”

According to the source, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed the United States of Israel’s retaliatory strikes shortly after issuing the order.

Tributes to a Fallen Soldier

Israel Gantz, head of the Binyamin Regional Council and chairman of the Yesha Council, eulogized Feldbaum:

“Effi fought on the front lines of the war in Gaza and continued even after the ceasefire, which Hamas terrorists repeatedly violated. His heroism and sacrifice embody the spirit of the people of Israel — we are not afraid of the long road.”

Friends described Feldbaum as “well-known and deeply loved across the community,” adding that “he was connected to the land of Israel and fell while defending it.”

A Week After the Previous Fatal Attack in Rafah

The incident comes just nine days after another deadly attack in Rafah, in which Hamas terrorists fired an anti-tank missile at an IDF tank, killing Major Yaniv Kula (26) and Sergeant Itay Yavetz, both from the Nahal Brigade.

At that time, Israel launched dozens of retaliatory strikes across Gaza but, under American pressure to preserve the ceasefire, quickly reinstated the flow of humanitarian aid and renewed the truce within hours.