IDF announces reservist soldier killed yesterday in Rafah attack by terror operatives

An IDF reservist was killed in an attack carried out by Palestinian terror operatives against troops stationed in the Rafah area of the southern Gaza Strip yesterday afternoon, the military announces.

The slain soldier is named as Master Sgt. (res.) Yona Efraim Feldbaum, 37, a heavy machinery operator in the Gaza Division, from Neria.

According to an initial IDF probe, terror operatives carried out gunfire toward an army excavator operating in Rafah’s Jenina neighborhood, killing Feldbaum.

A short while later, RPGs were fired by the operatives toward the forces, which hit an armored vehicle, with no additional injuries caused.

The area is located on the eastern side of the Yellow Line, an area under Israeli control as part of the ceasefire.

Despite the area being under Israeli control, the IDF has assessed that there are terror operatives holed up in a “pocket” in the area. As troops work to clear the neighborhood of Hamas infrastructure, operatives emerge from tunnels and attempt attacks.

Last week, two soldiers were killed in a similar attack in the same neighborhood.

Israel has blamed Hamas for both attacks, which has denied any involvement.