Five soldiers killed, four in mortar attack from Gaza

Four Israeli soldiers were killed in a mortar attack from Gaza on Monday afternoon, the IDF said.

The soldiers are: SSgt. Eliav Eliyahu Haim Kahlon, 22, of Safed; Cpl. Meidan Maymon Biton, 20, of Netivot; Cpl. Niram Cohen, 20, of Tiberias; SSgt. Adi Briga, 23, of Beit Shikma.

Hamas took responsibility for the shellfire on a position in the Eshkol Region, which injured another 10 people, some seriously.

The IDF also said a fifth soldier, Staff-Sgt. Moshe Davino, 20, from Jerusalem, was killed in a gunfight in the southern Gaza Strip on Monday. According to the IDF, Davino was killed by antitank fire in Khan Yunis.

The five deaths bring the IDF death toll to 48, plus two civilians and a Thai worker.

The attack occurred in the Eshkol Region, located along the border with Gaza.

The Iron Dome and rocket alarms do not function when short-range mortar shells are fired.

At least nine injured people were airlifted to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba.

The head of the Eshkol Regional Council, Haim Yellin, called on Israeli civilians to stop visiting soldiers in the area, citing the dangers involved.

Roads into the area were also closed to traffic.

JTA contributed to this report.