Five Israeli soldiers killed by friendly fire
The deaths of five Israeli soldiers in Gaza have raised further questions as to its military competence ahead of a potential Rafah offensive. This latest incident of endemic occurrences of friendly fire within Israel’s Defence Forces (IDF) is sure to drive pressure for its administration to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, while drawing unwanted attention from Washington.
The IDF announced on May 16th that five Israeli soldiers were killed and at least seven injured by friendly fire from a tank, according to The Jerusalem Post.
An initial probe by the IDF found that the tank fired two shells at a building where the 202nd battalion paratroopers were gathered, in northern Gaza’s Jabalia refugee camp on May 15th.
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The IDF confirmed that two groups of paratroopers were in the area and that, after identifying a gun barrel peaking from the building, the tank’s crew opened fire at what they assumed to be Palestinian fighters.
The incident brings the number of Israeli combat deaths in the ongoing Gaza conflict to 278, with 22 military personnel having been killed by friendly fire, as reported by the BBC.
Instances of friendly fire have become somewhat of a hallmark of the IDF in its war on Gaza.
On December 16th, 2023, three Israeli hostages were shot while trying to reach IDF troops, casting major doubt as to the army’s conduct in in the conflict, as-well-as its intention to rescue its citizens held by Hamas.
Evidence has also come to light of the killing of a number of Israeli hostages by IDF strikes, while being taken to Gaza by Hamas militants on October 7th, 2023, following the group’s attack on southern Israel.
Israel’s administration is facing unprecedented pressure domestically, and from both the US and EU, to limit its violence upon what remains of Gaza.
With the majority of the Palestinian enclave’s population seeking refuge in its southernmost settlement, Rafah, US President Joe Biden has repeatedly dubbed a full-scale assault a “red line” in US-Israeli relations and recently paused its arms sales to the country.
READ: UN warns Israeli raid in Rafah would kill thousands of civilians
A new $1 bn Israeli arms package was, however, approved by the Biden administration on May 15th, including $700 mil for tank ammunition, $500 mil in tactical vehicles, and $60 mil in mortar rounds, according to AP.
The Jerusalem Post / BBC / AP
