The funeral of First Sergeant Nadav Rotenberg, who was killed in action near Gaza Friday, began Sunday afternoon in the military plot of the cemetery at Ramot HaShavim, in central Israel.
Hundreds of relatives, friends, acquaintances, comrades-in-arms and other citizens accompanied Nadav on his final journey on earth.
An IDF officer suffered moderate wounds and three soldiers were lightly injured in the same incident. They were taken to Soroka Hospital in Be'er Sheva for treatment.
Head of Southern Command, Maj.-Gen. Tal Russo, and Gaza Division Commander Brig.-Gen. Yossi Bachar conducted an initial inquiry into the incident. They determined that Rotenberg and the other soldiers were hurt by a mortar shell that had been misfired.
An IDF force identified several terrorists who were placing explosive charges near the security fence surrounding Gaza. They fired the mortars at them but one shell strayed and hit an IDF unit.