
At least five Israeli soldiers were killed in a friendly fire attack on Wednesday (May 15) in Jabalia in northern Gaza. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) returned tonorthern Gazaon Monday after it said Hamas had regrouped there. On Wednesday, as the battle intensified between Hamas fighters and Israeli soldiers, some IDF tanks mistakenly opened fire at the soldiers of the 202nd Battalion of the Paratroopers Brigade.
The friendly attack also wounded at least seven other Israeli soldiers. The IDFinastatementsaid it was investigating the incident.
As per local media reports, the tanks were under extreme pressure and were being targeted with rocket-propelled grenade attacks when the friendly fire attack took place.
An initial probe found that some IDF soldiers had occupied a building in the Jabalia refugee camp just a few metres away from the tanks.
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The tanks took them as potential threats after they found a weapon in the building and opened fire at them.
The IDF had earlier pulled out of northern Gaza as it shifted its attention towards the southern regions. However, it reentered theregionafter it said Hamas fighters were springing up there.
The fighting, both in the north and south, has intensified over the last few days. The IDF and Hamas are engaged in an intense battle in Rafah, where about half of Gaza's 2.3 million population took shelter.
Since the outbreak of the battle, some 600,000 people have already fled the city.
The IDF has revealed the names of the five soldiers whowere killedin the Wednesday attack.
Sergeant Roy Beit Yaakov, 22, from Eli, was a combat officer in Battalion 202, Paratroopers Brigade.
Sergeant Daniel Chemu, 20, from Tiberias, was a soldier in Battalion 202, Paratroopers Brigade.
Sergeant Ilan Cohen, 20, from Karmiel, was a soldier in Battalion 202, Paratroopers Brigade.
Staff Sergeant Gilad Arye Boim, 22, from Karnei Shomron, was a soldier in Battalion 202, Paratroopers Brigade.
Staff Sergeant Betzlel David Shashuah, 21, from Tel Aviv, was a soldier in Battalion 202, Paratroopers Brigade.
Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.
(With inputs from agencies)