JUST IN: Netanyahu mourns two Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza

International, Middle East

JERUSALEM, Israel (NPA) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has mourned the death of two Israeli soldiers who were killed in the Gaza Strip on Thursday.

The deceased, Sgt. Maj. (res.) Nadav Klei and Sgt. Maj. (res.) Ofer Ariel, died in what Netanyahu described as a tragic incident in Gaza.

Netanyahu said the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) was investigating the incident, stressing the need to draw all necessary lessons and implement them to ensure the safety and security of its soldiers.

Advertisement

In a statement issued personally on Friday, Netanyahu said:

“Together with all the citizens of Israel, my wife and I mourn the fall of Sgt. Maj. (res.) Nadav Klei and Sgt. Maj. (res.) Ofer Ariel in the tragic incident yesterday in Gaza.

“Nadav and Ofer, may their memory be a blessing, were brave reservist fighters who defended Israel’s security. We embrace their families in their time of hardship and send them condolences from the depths of our hearts.

“The IDF is investigating the incident, and it is essential to draw all the necessary lessons and implement them to ensure the safety and security of IDF soldiers.”

The Israeli military said the two reservists were killed in a drone explosion incident in Gaza.

As of Sept. 25, 2026, the Israeli army reported that 970 soldiers had been killed in Gaza since the war began in October 2023, including the two reservists killed in the latest incident.