seven IDF Soldiers have been Killed in Gaza Ambush: Dozens Burned Alive in Puma Vehicle

Seven soldiers from the IDF’s Combat Engineering Corps were killed and one seriously wounded in two separate but closely timed incidents Tuesday night in the heart of Khan Yunis. The attacks, occurring less than an hour apart, are among the deadliest suffered by the IDF in recent weeks as Operation "Gideon's Chariots" continues against Hamas forces entrenched in Gaza.

The fallen soldiers have been identified as:

• Lt. Matan Shai Yashinovsky, 21, from Kfar Yona

• Sgt. Ronal Ben-Moshe, 20, from Rehovot

• Sgt. Niv Radie, 20, from Alikin

• Sgt. Ronen Shapiro, 19, from Mazkeret Batya

• Sgt. Shahar Manoev, 21, from Ashkelon

• Sgt. Maayan Baruch Perlstein, 20, from Ashkharah

The identity of the seventh soldier has not yet been publicly released. His family has been notified.

Incident 1: RPG Attack on D9 Bulldozer

At approximately 4:30 PM, a terrorist emerged from a tunnel shaft and fired an RPG at a D9 armored bulldozer operated by soldiers from the 605th Combat Engineering Battalion. Two soldiers sustained injuries and received life-saving treatment at the scene before being airlifted by an IDF helicopter to a hospital in central Israel.

Incident 2: “Leech” Charge Destroys Puma Vehicle

Roughly an hour later, a second, far deadlier attack occurred nearby. A force from the same battalion was traveling in an aging Puma engineering vehicle—a decades-old armored personnel carrier—when a terrorist emerged from cover and attached a "leech" explosive charge to its side. This type of device, recently identified by IDF intelligence as a new threat, is designed to stick to vehicles and detonate after attachment.

The explosion caused the Puma to ignite. Despite repeated firefighting efforts—including attempts with fire extinguishers and a bulldozer pouring sand—the fire raged for hours. Ultimately, the IDF decided to tow the burning vehicle toward Israeli territory. It took approximately two hours to extinguish the fire. Tragically, none of the seven soldiers trapped inside survived.

Ongoing Operation and Growing Challenges

The 36th Division has been operating in Khan Yunis for several weeks under Operation “Gideon’s Chariots”, the second major maneuver in Gaza since the war began on October 7. The 188th Brigade combat team has been focused on central Khan Yunis, facing fierce resistance from entrenched Hamas battalions.

Hamas has intensified its guerrilla warfare tactics, employing tunnel networks, anti-tank fire, sniper attacks, and now adhesive explosive devices. Since the start of June, 20 IDF soldiers have been killed and dozens more injured in the ongoing fighting.

The IDF has acknowledged the tactical difficulties, particularly in urban warfare environments like Khan Yunis, where militants exploit destroyed buildings and underground infrastructure for ambushes.

Questions Over Equipment Deployment

Tuesday night’s fatal incident has raised serious questions about the use of outdated vehicles like the Puma in active combat. The IDF’s modern engineering units are typically equipped with "Namer" and "Tiger" armored vehicles, which offer significantly greater protection. The decision to deploy an older vehicle into such a volatile area is under scrutiny.

A Nation in Mourning

The loss of the seven soldiers marks one of the deadliest single incidents for the Combat Engineering Corps during this conflict. The IDF, alongside the soldiers’ families and communities, is mourning their loss. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced in the coming days.