In the worst one-day attack since the beginning of the Gaza war, 21 IDF soldiers were killed on Monday and several others were injured when Hamas forces fired rocket-propelled grenades on buildings the soldiers were inside.
The buildings were laden with stored explosives, and the grenades set them off causing their total collapse.
The incident occurred around 4:00 p.m. in Maghazi in central Gaza, only 600 meters from the border fence close to Kissufim.
In addition, right after Hamas’s attackers had attacked the soldiers in the buildings, an IDF tank noticed the attackers, and started to maneuver its turret toward them.
However, before it could fire, Hamas fired a separate rocket-propelled grenade at the tank, which killed two IDF soldiers and injured two others.
Details of the massive explosion are being investigated
It was unclear if the soldiers had violated procedures by bringing the landmines into the structures with them and also unclear how much the collapse of the building was caused by the RPG versus the secondary landmines explosions.
Moreover, it was unclear if the large volume of soldiers in the building at the time should have been there, or if the forces should have been more spread out to avoid the possibility of one large ambush.
Further, it was unclear whether the landmines were brought into the structures fully shielded and covered or with more unprotected explosive substances.
However, in a third update later Tuesday, IDF sources said that there was some evidence that the collapse was not caused by the landmines.
There were other adjacent structures also with soldiers and landmines which did not collapse.
The IDF forces who were harmed were mostly reservists from Unit 8208 assigned to clear certain areas of dangerous items, such as mines, or in this case, to use the mines to destroy certain structures which were viewed as presenting a threat to future Israeli southern residents' security.
Rescue activities went on for hours with the brigade commander having been on site from the start of the incident and the brigadier general in charge of the entire Gaza defense division, arriving shortly after.
Late Tuesday, IDF Chief-of-Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi flew down to the site from the northern border, cancelling his original schedule to view the situation firsthand.
Halevi said, “The State of Israel woke up this morning to a painful and difficult update: 21 dead, among the best of our country who volunteered to defend their homeland.”
He emphasized the need to continue the war going forward to return security to Israel’s southern residents.
It was unclear what happened to the Hamas attackers, but IDF sources suggested they probably escaped.
The IDF is expected to probe how to avoid having such a large volume of soldiers in one spot to avoid future large losses all at once.
At the same time, IDF sources said that it was technically safer for the soldiers to have been in the buildings than if they were waiting outside in the open and completely exposed area.
It was unclear if there would be enough armored personnel carriers for the forces given that they were in an area which was considered operationally secure, and the IDF has shifted many of its resources to southern Gaza or other fronts.
There were no signs that this single incident would change that shift given the domestic pressure to release reservists and the global pressure to reduce Israel’s military footprint in Gaza.
There was also criticism that the IDF could have used the air force to destroy the building to avoid dangers to soldiers.
However, IDF sources brushed off these objections, saying that the air force cannot be everywhere and it is prioritized to attacking active Hamas units, not for just blowing up structures in areas where most of Hamas’s forces have already been beaten (even if smaller guerilla warfare cells remain.)
The IDF released the names of the soldiers killed:
From the 8208 Battalion, 261st Brigade:
Sgt. 1st Class (res.) Hadar Kapeluk, 23, from Moshav Mevo Beitar, a Class Commander.
Sgt.-Maj. (res.) Sergey Gontmaher, 37, from Ramat Gan.
Sgt.-1st Class (res.) Elkana Yehuda Sfez, 25, from Kiryat Arba.
Master Sgt. (res.) Yoav Levi, 29, from the city of Yehud-Monoson in central Israel.
Sgt 1st Class (res.) Nicholas Berger, 22, from Jerusalem.
Sgt. 1st Class (res.) Cydrick Garin, 23, from Tel Aviv-Yafo.
Sgt.-Maj. (res.) Ahmad Abu Latif, 26, from Rahat.
Captain Nir Binyamin, 29, from Givatayim.
St.-Sgt.-Maj. Elkana Vizel, 35, from Bnei Dekalim near the West Bank.
Sgt.-Maj. (res.) Israel Socol, 24, from the Israeli settlement Karnei Shomron in the West Bank.
Sgt.-Maj. Sagi Idan, 24, from Rosh Haayin.
Warrant Officer Mark Kononovich, 35, from Herzliya.
Warrant Officer Shay Biton Hayun, 40, from Zichron Yaakov.
Warrant Officer Daniel Kasau Zegeye, 38, from Yokneam.
From the 6261 Battalion, 261st Brigade:
Sgt.-Maj. (res.) Matan Lazar, 32, from Haifa.
Sgt.-Maj. (res.) Rafael Elias Mosheyoff, 33, from the town of Pardes Hanna-Karkur near Haifa.
St.-Sgt. (res.) Barak Haim Ben Valid, 33, from Rishon Lezion, a Class Commander.
Warrant Officer Itamar Tal, 32, from Kibbutz Mesilot in northern Israel.
Warrant Officer Adam Bismut, 35, the Israeli settlement Karnei Shomron in the West Bank.
From the 9206 Battalion, 205th Brigade:
Sgt. 1st Class (res.) Yoval Lopez, 27, from the settlement of Alon Shvut in the West Bank.
Captain (res.) Ariel Mordechay Wollfstal, 28, from the Israeli settlement Elazar in the West Bank.
Israeli officials' comments
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said "Yesterday, we experienced one of the most difficult days since the outbreak of the war. The IDF has launched an investigation into the disaster. We must learn the necessary lessons and do everything to preserve the lives of our soldiers. In the name of our heroes, for the sake of our lives, we will not stop fighting until absolute victory."
President Isaac Herzog wrote that "behind every name whose world has fallen apart - a family that we take to our hearts with sorrow and pain, and at the same time with pride - for the heroism of the generation."
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated, "On this difficult and painful morning, the most tragic news reached many homes in Israel; our hearts are with the dear families in their most difficult time. This is a war that will determine the future of Israel for decades to come - the fall of the fighters is a requirement to achieve the goals of the war.
"I send my condolences from the bottom of my heart to the families of the victims of the campaign and best wishes for a speedy recovery to the wounded."
Yesh Atid Leader Yair Lapid said that he "sends a hug to the families of the soldiers. The entire nation of Israel is with you in your difficult time. May their memory be a blessing."
National Unity Party Leader Benny Gantz said, "On this difficult morning, we must be united, remember the heavy price we are forced to pay for such a just war and the goal for which our heroes fell - to secure our future, to return our daughters and sons, and to take care of Israel forever. Especially today, we are sending strength to all IDF soldiers and their commanders. We are all behind you."
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich described the incident as "heartbreaking news. Condolences from the bottom of my heart to the families of the heroes, the entire nation of Israel embraces you with a broken and aching heart. Our commitment is to ensure that the fall of our soldiers will not be in vain."
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said "Precisely now it is clearer than ever - the war must not be stopped, the fighting must not be reduced. We must continue to subdue, crush and mow down the Nazi enemy in Gaza with all our might. "
Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana said, "It's a difficult morning for the people of Israel to wake up to this heartbreaking news. On behalf of the Knesset, I would like to send my heartfelt condolences to the families of the fallen. Each of them is a world full of families, hopes, and dreams that were cut short prematurely. We all wish and pray for a speedy recovery of the wounded."
Agriculture Minister and security cabinet member Avi Dichter said, "Most of the soldiers were reservists, who left entire families without a father and an entire country shocked and in pain."
Far-left Hadash MK Ofer Cassif gives his "condolences to the families affected and best wishes for a speedy and full recovery to the injured.
"Their blood is on the hands of this atrocious government that sacrifices masses just for its own survival. They led us into the abyss, and they have no one to blame but themselves! They, in a messianic nightmare, ask for houses on the beach to be built on the corpses of soldiers, hostages, and thousands of Palestinians.
"There must be an uncompromising and fearless alternative in front of them that will stop the rivers of blood! A Jewish-Arab alternative of justice, equality, and peace. These criminals must leave already! Elections now!"