A British-Israeli soldier, Sergeant Yisrael Natan Rosenfeld, has been killed in Gaza, the IDF has announced.
Rosenfeld, 20, was killed by Hamas fighters in Jabalia when he and his squad were investigating reports of an explosive device hidden inside a building.
Rosenfeld, from Ra’anana, is reported to have moved to Israel with his family from London 11 years ago.
His death brings the number of IDF troops killed in Gaza during 21 months of fighting to 441.
The news comes after seven Israeli soldiers were killed last week after Hamas placed an IED on their transport vehicle in the city of Khan Yunis.
It’s estimated that several hundred British nationals are fighting for the IDF.
In September 2023, the UK Foreign Office reported that at least 80 British nationals were serving as “lone soldiers” (those without parents in Israel).
Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on the latest news and updates from around the Muslim world!
In October 2023, the Israeli Embassy in the UK estimated that at least 100 reservists and active-duty soldiers had traveled from the UK to serve in the IDF following the onset of the conflict with Hamas.
The Israel Defence Forces have been accused of war crimes in Gaza by multiple international organisations and human rights groups, and are under investigation by the International Criminal Court for the act of genocide.
Key allegations include collective punishment, firing on unarmed civilians, launching attacks on hospitals causing deaths and suffering to patients, destruction of buildings, and disproportionately harming civilians.
The IDF argues that it complies with international law and claims no war crimes or genocide have occurred.
