Shocking Hamas Ambush: 5 Soldiers Fell in Beit Hanoun, 19 injured
Ambushed in Beit Hanoun, five Netzach Yehuda fighters fall in one of the deadliest incidents for the battalion since the war began.
Five soldiers from the Netzach Yehuda Battalion were killed in battle in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza Strip, last night (Monday). The IDF has cleared the names of two soldiers for publication: Staff Sergeant Meir Shimon Amar (20) and Sergeant Moshe Nissim Frech (20) both from Jerusalem.
The incident occurred when a force moving toward an attack in Beit Hanoun triggered an explosive device. Terrorists then fired on rescue forces and a tank providing cover. Nineteen additional soldiers were injured, two seriously, including two from the Netzach Yehuda Battalion (97), Kfir Brigade.
Sderot residents reported hearing huge explosions and seeing military flares lighting up the night sky. They also reported a power failure, which authorities said was not connected to the Gaza tragedy. At least 5 helicopters arrived on the scene to transport the wounded troops to five major hospitals in Israel.
The IDF has released the names of two additional soldiers killed in the roadside bomb attack in Beit Hanoun:
Sgt. First Class (res.) Benyamin Asulin, 28, from the Gaza Division’s Northern Brigade, from Haifa, Staff Sgt. Noam Aharon Musgadian, 20, from the Kfir Brigade’s Netzah Yehuda Battalion, from Jerusalem.
The name of the fifth fallen IDF soldier from last night's ambush has been cleared for publication: Staff Sergeant Moshe Shmuel Noll, 21, from Beit Shemesh, a combat soldier in the Netzach Yehuda Battalion (97), Kfir Brigade.
Beit Shemesh Mayor Shmuel Greenberg said, “This is a very difficult day for the city of Beit Shemesh. Moshe Shmuel was a role model of dedication and bravery, a true warrior who fell heroically in the line of duty for the People of Israel. The entire city mourns with the Noll family and embraces them in this painful hour.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
"On behalf of all the citizens of Israel, my wife and I send our deepest condolences to the families of our fallen soldiers from the Netzach Yehuda Battalion: Staff Sergeant Meir Shimon Amar, Sergeant Moshe Nissim Fresh, Staff Sergeant Noam Aharon Musgadiyan, Staff Sergeant Moshe Shmuel Noll, and Master Sergeant (Res.) Binyamin Assulin, a fighter from the Northern Brigade, who fell in the terrible incident in northern Gaza.
On this difficult morning, the entire people of Israel bow their heads in mourning over the loss of our heroic soldiers, who gave their lives in the campaign to defeat Hamas and bring home all of our hostages.
We embrace the families who lost their most beloved, and we pray for the full recovery of the wounded in the incident.
Their sacrifice and heroism will forever be etched in our hearts. May their memory be a blessing. May God avenge their blood."
The Netzach Yehuda Association released this statement:
"The Netzach Yehuda Association bows its head over the fall of the Netzach Yehuda Battalion soldiers in battle in the northern Gaza Strip.
With broken and tearful hearts, we share in the grief of the families over the loss of their sons, brave warriors who risked their lives and sanctified God's name on behalf of the People of Israel.
The Netzach Yehuda Battalion entered the maneuver just a few days ago for another round of fighting as part of a battalion combat team in northern Gaza. The battalion has extensive experience in ground operations throughout the war, especially in the northern sector, where it has achieved countless successes against Hamas, though not without the loss of several soldiers and commanders in the past.
The battalion returned to maneuver bravely and was operating in the town of Beit Hanoun. Last night, in a difficult incident involving an IED and terrorist fire, five soldiers fell, including the brigade's tracker.
The pain over the loss of our fighters during combat is immense, yet we remain determined and forward-looking as the ground operation continues, as needed.
May the memory of the fallen be blessed. May God avenge their blood.
In this difficult hour, our hearts are also with the wounded soldiers. We send a warm embrace and a heartfelt prayer for their complete physical and emotional recovery."