Funerals for the four IDF soldiers who were killed yesterday morning in a bomb attack against their Patton M-7 tank were held this afternoon. A bomb containing over 100 kg (220 lbs) of explosives was detonated against the tank near the northern Gaza community of Dugit. The tank burst into flames as the ammunition inside exploded, and it took rescue forces three hours to extricate the bodies of the soldiers.
The four fallen soldiers are: Sgt. Alexei Blitzky, 21, and St. Sgt. Doron Cohen, 21, both of Rishon LeTzion; Corp. Noam Bahagon, 20, from Elkanah; and Sgt. Itai Mizrachi, 20, of Be'er Sheva. Individual identification of the bodies was completed only this afternoon. The Izzadin el-Kassam military arm of Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.
IDF Southern District Commander Maj.-Gen. Doron Almog stated last night that military officials know the identities of the terrorists who placed the bomb. He added that there is no way to increase the armored protection on tanks. Procedures were in place, however, for armored bulldozers to clear the area ahead of the tanks. It appears that for as yet unexplained reasons, yesterday's tank veered to the side, off the path checked seconds earlier by the D-9 armored bulldozer. Word of a bomb hidden in the area had been received a few days ago.
Noam Bahagon, the youngest of four siblings, grew up in the Shomron community of Elkanah. He attended the yeshiva high school in Hispin in the Golan, and volunteered for Ilan, an organization that helps the handicapped. He began his army service at the hesder yeshiva in Otniel, and friends described him as an "idealist." MK Sha'ul Yahalom (NRP), a resident of Elkanah, told Arutz-7 today that he was very friendly with Noam's parents, that his sister's husband had been killed in a car accident last year, and that, "This loss of Noam and three others in a burning tank is very painful to us and the whole community."
Doron Cohen and Alexei Blitzky were friends in Rishon LeTzion, and Doron even made sure to include Alexei in the tank he commanded. The two had just been transferred to Gaza from Bethlehem two days before they were killed. Doron hoped to become an officer, while Alexei, who immigrated to Israel from Russia with his family about six years ago, had hoped to study nursing at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Itai Mizrachi of Be'er Sheva studied biology and computers in high school, and was said to have "flowered" in the army.
Seven other soldiers have been killed in three other incidents involving powerful explosives placed under the route of an Israeli tank. Exactly a year and a day before yesterday's attack, three soldiers were killed when a powerful explosive was detonated by remote control under their Merkavah-3 tank: Sgt. Moshe Peled, 20, of Rehovot; Sgt. Asher Zaguri, 21, of Shlomi; and Sgt. Ron Lavi, 20, of Katzrin. A month later, Sgt. Rotem Shani, 19, of Hod HaSharon, Sgt. Matan Biderman, 21, of Karmiel, and St.-Sgt. Ala Kabeishi of the Druze town of Julis were killed near Netzarim in the same way. Last September, Sgt. Aviad Dotan, 21, of Nir Galim, was killed and three others wounded when their tank ran over a large explosive device planted under the road near the Kisufim Crossing into Gush Katif.
The four fallen soldiers are: Sgt. Alexei Blitzky, 21, and St. Sgt. Doron Cohen, 21, both of Rishon LeTzion; Corp. Noam Bahagon, 20, from Elkanah; and Sgt. Itai Mizrachi, 20, of Be'er Sheva. Individual identification of the bodies was completed only this afternoon. The Izzadin el-Kassam military arm of Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.
IDF Southern District Commander Maj.-Gen. Doron Almog stated last night that military officials know the identities of the terrorists who placed the bomb. He added that there is no way to increase the armored protection on tanks. Procedures were in place, however, for armored bulldozers to clear the area ahead of the tanks. It appears that for as yet unexplained reasons, yesterday's tank veered to the side, off the path checked seconds earlier by the D-9 armored bulldozer. Word of a bomb hidden in the area had been received a few days ago.
Noam Bahagon, the youngest of four siblings, grew up in the Shomron community of Elkanah. He attended the yeshiva high school in Hispin in the Golan, and volunteered for Ilan, an organization that helps the handicapped. He began his army service at the hesder yeshiva in Otniel, and friends described him as an "idealist." MK Sha'ul Yahalom (NRP), a resident of Elkanah, told Arutz-7 today that he was very friendly with Noam's parents, that his sister's husband had been killed in a car accident last year, and that, "This loss of Noam and three others in a burning tank is very painful to us and the whole community."
Doron Cohen and Alexei Blitzky were friends in Rishon LeTzion, and Doron even made sure to include Alexei in the tank he commanded. The two had just been transferred to Gaza from Bethlehem two days before they were killed. Doron hoped to become an officer, while Alexei, who immigrated to Israel from Russia with his family about six years ago, had hoped to study nursing at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Itai Mizrachi of Be'er Sheva studied biology and computers in high school, and was said to have "flowered" in the army.
Seven other soldiers have been killed in three other incidents involving powerful explosives placed under the route of an Israeli tank. Exactly a year and a day before yesterday's attack, three soldiers were killed when a powerful explosive was detonated by remote control under their Merkavah-3 tank: Sgt. Moshe Peled, 20, of Rehovot; Sgt. Asher Zaguri, 21, of Shlomi; and Sgt. Ron Lavi, 20, of Katzrin. A month later, Sgt. Rotem Shani, 19, of Hod HaSharon, Sgt. Matan Biderman, 21, of Karmiel, and St.-Sgt. Ala Kabeishi of the Druze town of Julis were killed near Netzarim in the same way. Last September, Sgt. Aviad Dotan, 21, of Nir Galim, was killed and three others wounded when their tank ran over a large explosive device planted under the road near the Kisufim Crossing into Gush Katif.