(ConservativeSense.com) – Five Israeli troops died by friendly fire in the northern Gaza region of Jabalia on May 15. Four soldiers and a platoon commander from Paratroopers Brigade Battalion 202 were killed, and eight more injured, under tank fire from the Israeli Defense Force (IDF). The dead fighters were identified as 22-year-old Capt. Roy Beit Ya’akov, 22-year-old Staff Sgt. Gilad Arye Boim, 20-year-old Sgt. Daniel Chemu, 20-year-old Sgt. Ilan Cohen, and 21-year-old Sgt. Betzalel David Shashuah.
The Israeli death toll since the conflict with Hamas erupted last October is now reportedly at 278. A further 348 were among the approximately 1,200 murdered by the Islamist group during the October 7 attack. The latest incident occurred near Jabalia, the scene of intense fighting over recent days. The IDF said on May 16 it had killed “a large number of terrorists,” while Hamas simultaneously reported the deaths of several Israeli soldiers.
The IDF is also heavily engaged in the southern Gazan city of Rafah, from where 600,000 Palestinians have reportedly fled. Reports indicate that Israel has bombarded Rafah with tank fire but has not yet advanced on the ground. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said that the IDF is wearing down Hamas, and more troops will be deployed to Rafah in the coming weeks. He added that the initial tank fire was damaging Hamas tunnels in the city, used by its fighters to hide and mount surprise assaults.
President Biden has warned Israel that the US will not provide weapons for a Rafah ground incursion due to the high number of civilians there, but Israel insists it will carry on regardless.
Meanwhile, the Jewish state has once again been forced to deny allegations that it is engaged in genocide in Gaza. South Africa has petitioned the International Criminal Court in the Hague to order Israel to leave Rafah and end operations in Gaza. Israel told the court that South Africa’s genocide accusations make a “mockery” of genocide and its genuine victims.
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