The IDF Spokesperson's Unit cleared for publication on Tuesday that Sergeant Major (res.) Vladimir Loza, aged 36, from Ashkelon, fell during combat in the southern Gaza Strip.
Loza served as a soldier in the 5th Brigade's 7020th Battalion, and fell while battling terrorists in Rafah.
Loza fell as reserve forces from the 5th Brigade operated in Rafah's Janinia neighborhood, an area that was searched several times. Despite this, during operations to destroy terrorist infrastructure, the troops entered a suspicious structure.
While searching the structure, one of the soldiers lifted an object under which an explosive device was hiding. The device was automatically activated, apparently by a motion sensor.
As a result of the explosion, a wall collapsed on the soldiers. Vladimir was killed on the spot, and two of his colleagues were wounded and taken for treatment at a hospital.
895 soldiers have fallen since the war began.
On Monday, the IDF cleared for publication that Staff Sergeant Amit Cohen, aged 19, from Holon, a soldier in the 13th Battalion, Golani Brigade, was killed in a building explosion in Khan Yunis. In the incident, an officer in the 13th Battalion was severely injured.
The IDF is investigating the incident. An initial investigation shows that the incident was the result of an operational accident.
Last week, three soldiers in 401st Brigade's 52nd Armored Corps Battalion, Staff Sergeant Shoham Menahem, aged 21, from Yardena, Sergeant Shlomo Yakir Shrem, aged 20, from Efrat, and Sergeant Yuliy Faktor, aged 19, from Rishon LeZion, fell in battle.
The incident occurred on Monday afternoon during an offensive by the 162nd Division on Jabaliya. A large explosion occurred in the soldiers' Merkava tank.
An inquiry found that the loader placed a shell between his legs, and it ignited, leading to an explosion. The inquiry also found the entire tank crew acted appropriately.