An IDF force on its way to yet another mission to destroy arms-smuggling tunnels was attacked early yesterday evening, and five soldiers were killed.
Precisely 36 hours after six soldiers were killed on Tuesday morning when their explosives-packed armored personnel carrier (APC) blew up - either by an RPG missile or an underground explosive, or both - another APC, in a different area of Gaza, was similarly destroyed. The soldiers were about to unload dozens of kilograms of explosives to be used to blow up the tunnels when a missile was fired at the vehicle, destroying it instantly and scattering its pieces hundreds of meters in various directions. The five soldiers inside were killed, and two soldiers standing nearby were wounded.
The attack occurred shortly after 6 PM along the Israeli-Egyptian border, known as the Philadelphi Route, in southern Gaza.
The Islamic Jihad terrorist organization claimed responsibility for the attack. IDF forces have discovered and blown up some 90 such tunnels in the past 3.5 years. IDF vehicles have been attacked often along this route, but there were no casualties and the damage was light - until last night.
Killed in the attack were:
Lt. Aviv Hakani, 23, from Ashdod - the "Tunnels Commander" of the Gaza Formation, who tried to learn everything he could about how the tunnels were made and worked. His mother said, "I was always worried for him, but he would say, 'If I won't be there, who will do the work?' I'm so proud of him and I love him so much." Aviv is survived by his parents and two younger sisters.
Sgt. Zohar Smeilov, 20, from Ofakim. His family immigrated to Israel from Caucasia (Russian Kavkaz) ten years ago. He is survived by his parents and three siblings.
Sgt. Lior Vishinski, 20, from Ramat Gan. His father Shlomo, an actor, said this morning, "I asked him, 'What are you doing there? You're a leftist!' and he answered me, 'Abba, the army is everyone's, not just the right-wing.'" His father quoted him as saying with satisfaction on another occasion that he was doing the work of "preventing the terrorists from getting to the other side." Despite this, Shlomo could not hide his bitterness, saying, "Maybe the funeral should leave from the Likud headquarters." He said that Lior was his younger sister's best friend: "I'll get over it, but I don't know how she will."
Sgt.-Maj. Aiman Gadir, 24, from the Bedouin village of Bir El-Makhsur in the Galilee. He chose to remain in the army after he completed his regular service. Survived by parents and four siblings.
Corp. Elad Cohen, 20, from Gilo, Jerusalem, described by his neighbor, Israel Radio's veteran broadcaster Menachem Peri, as "quiet and serious... flowered in combat duty, where he made many friends." Survived by parents and two brothers.
In the meantime, enough remains of the six soldiers killed Tuesday morning to allow burial, and their funerals will be held today. The family of Yaakov Marviza, who immigrated to Israel alone two years ago, has asked to bury him in their hometown in Yugoslavia. Four other soldiers will be buried at two-hour intervals at Mt. Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem, beginning at 12:30 PM. The funeral of Ofer Jerbi has not yet been set. Sgt. Ofir Jerbi will be laid to rest this afternoon at 4:30 in the Yavneh Military Cemetery.
Precisely 36 hours after six soldiers were killed on Tuesday morning when their explosives-packed armored personnel carrier (APC) blew up - either by an RPG missile or an underground explosive, or both - another APC, in a different area of Gaza, was similarly destroyed. The soldiers were about to unload dozens of kilograms of explosives to be used to blow up the tunnels when a missile was fired at the vehicle, destroying it instantly and scattering its pieces hundreds of meters in various directions. The five soldiers inside were killed, and two soldiers standing nearby were wounded.
The attack occurred shortly after 6 PM along the Israeli-Egyptian border, known as the Philadelphi Route, in southern Gaza.
The Islamic Jihad terrorist organization claimed responsibility for the attack. IDF forces have discovered and blown up some 90 such tunnels in the past 3.5 years. IDF vehicles have been attacked often along this route, but there were no casualties and the damage was light - until last night.
Killed in the attack were:
Lt. Aviv Hakani, 23, from Ashdod - the "Tunnels Commander" of the Gaza Formation, who tried to learn everything he could about how the tunnels were made and worked. His mother said, "I was always worried for him, but he would say, 'If I won't be there, who will do the work?' I'm so proud of him and I love him so much." Aviv is survived by his parents and two younger sisters.
Sgt. Zohar Smeilov, 20, from Ofakim. His family immigrated to Israel from Caucasia (Russian Kavkaz) ten years ago. He is survived by his parents and three siblings.
Sgt. Lior Vishinski, 20, from Ramat Gan. His father Shlomo, an actor, said this morning, "I asked him, 'What are you doing there? You're a leftist!' and he answered me, 'Abba, the army is everyone's, not just the right-wing.'" His father quoted him as saying with satisfaction on another occasion that he was doing the work of "preventing the terrorists from getting to the other side." Despite this, Shlomo could not hide his bitterness, saying, "Maybe the funeral should leave from the Likud headquarters." He said that Lior was his younger sister's best friend: "I'll get over it, but I don't know how she will."
Sgt.-Maj. Aiman Gadir, 24, from the Bedouin village of Bir El-Makhsur in the Galilee. He chose to remain in the army after he completed his regular service. Survived by parents and four siblings.
Corp. Elad Cohen, 20, from Gilo, Jerusalem, described by his neighbor, Israel Radio's veteran broadcaster Menachem Peri, as "quiet and serious... flowered in combat duty, where he made many friends." Survived by parents and two brothers.
In the meantime, enough remains of the six soldiers killed Tuesday morning to allow burial, and their funerals will be held today. The family of Yaakov Marviza, who immigrated to Israel alone two years ago, has asked to bury him in their hometown in Yugoslavia. Four other soldiers will be buried at two-hour intervals at Mt. Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem, beginning at 12:30 PM. The funeral of Ofer Jerbi has not yet been set. Sgt. Ofir Jerbi will be laid to rest this afternoon at 4:30 in the Yavneh Military Cemetery.