From the Liveblog of
Monday, January 1, 2024
IDF says 29 of 170 soldiers killed in Gaza were from so-called friendly fire, other accidents
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
Of 170 soldiers killed in the Gaza Strip during the ground offensive, 29 were killed by so-called friendly fire and other accidents, according to new data released by the IDF.
Eighteen of the soldiers were killed by friendly fire due to mistaken identification, including in airstrikes, tank shelling, and gunfire.
Two soldiers were killed by gunfire that was not intended to hit them.
Nine soldiers were killed in accidents, including accidental weapon discharges, being run over, and being hit by shrapnel from controlled demolitions.
Since the beginning of the ground operation, between two and six soldiers have been killed per week in incidents of friendly fire or accidents, according to the data.
The IDF has assessed that myriad reasons have led to the deadly accidents, including the large number of forces operating in Gaza, communication issues between forces, and soldiers being tired and not paying attention to regulations.
There are currently thousands of infantry forces, tanks, and other troops in Gaza taking part in Israel’s ground offensive against Hamas, operating in the Strip’s dense neighborhoods.
The military has said it is constantly assessing the ongoing fighting, including the cases of friendly fire, and quickly implementing lessons learned.
