IDF announces deaths of 3 soldiers, raising ground op death toll to 223

By ToI Staff 31 January 2024, 6:26 am 6 Edit

A composite image of Major (res.) Netzer Simchi, 30, left, Warrant officer (res.) Yuval Nir, 43, center, and Captain (res.) Gavriel Shani, 28, right, killed in Gaza on January 30, 2024. (Israel Defense Forces)

The Israel Defense Forces announces the deaths of three soldiers who were killed while fighting in Gaza yesterday, bringing the military death toll from the ground offensive to 223.

The slain troops are:

Major (res.) Netzer Simchi, 30, from the northern Israeli community of Masad, of the 14th Armored Brigade’s 87th Battalion.

Captain (res.) Gavriel Shani, 28, from the West Bank settlement of Eli, of the 646th Brigade’s 6646th Battalion.

Warrant officer (res.) Yuval Nir, 43, from the West Bank settlement of Kfar Etzion, of the 646th Brigade’s 6646th Battalion.

Shani and Nir were killed while fighting in south Gaza. Another two soldiers were seriously wounded in the same battle, the IDF says.

Simchi was killed fighting in northern Gaza, the military says.