IDF Major Ro'i Rozner met his death in a battle with Hamas terrorists on the ruins of the former Jewish community of Netzarim. Rozner, 27, from Holon, is survived by his wife of ten months, Sharon, as well as his parents and younger brother Yaniv, who has also been drafted for the war effort.

Several other soldiers, all from the Kfir Brigade, were also wounded after their unit was hit by anti-tank missiles fired by Hamas guerrillas. Their families were notified.

The fatality marks the eighth IDF casualty since the start of Operation Cast Lead, and the seventh since ground operations began last Saturday night.  Three Israeli civilians have also been killed.

Heavy fighting was reported elsewhere in Gaza as soldiers hunt down wanted terrorist leaders and search from house to house for smuggling tunnels, through which weapons, ammunition, operatives, cash and other contraband are brought into Gaza.

A number of other soldiers were wounded during the course of the morning as well. They were evacuated to Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheva.

The Wounded Soldiers
As of noon Thursday, some 40 wounded soldiers are hospitalized in Israel, including two listed as very seriously wounded and five listed in serious condition.  Among the wounded are:

Noam ben [son of] Elza, who has lost one leg and doctors are fighting to save his other one

Liel Hoshea ben Miriam and Neriah ben Rivkah, both suffering very critical head wounds

Dvir ben Leah and Tzviki Bar-Chai, seriously wounded on Sunday

Yitzchak ben Nava, moderately wounded in his shoulder

Netanel ben Nava, moderately wounded in his knee

Maxime ben Olga, Yisrael ben Ilana, Yoad Ido ben Frieda Rivkah, Idan ben Liora, and Nadav ben Marya – all lightly wounded.