Senior IDF Officer Severely Wounded in Gaza IED Attack
Commander of Desert Recon Battalion is among those who were injured in Rafah in a blast earlier today.
A senior IDF officer and three additional soldiers were wounded on Sunday in a serious incident in southern Gaza, after an explosive device was detonated near an Israeli force operating in the Rafah area.
The commander of the Desert Reconnaissance Battalion (585) and a reserve tracker were severely injured in the blast. Another officer sustained moderate injuries, and a fourth was lightly wounded. All wounded personnel were evacuated to the hospital, and their families have been notified.
The incident comes as soldiers from the IDF’s 646th Reserve Brigade have been engaged for over three months in some of Gaza's most intense battlegrounds, including Shejaiya, Daraj-Tuffah, Beit Hanoun, and the Netzarim corridor, under the command of Division 99.
These ground operations aim to dismantle Hamas’s terrorist infrastructure and degrade its military capabilities both above and below ground.
This morning, the IDF also announced a new humanitarian initiative: a daily tactical pause in certain areas of Gaza to facilitate humanitarian aid deliveries. The pause, coordinated with the United Nations and international aid organizations, will occur in areas where the IDF is not currently operating - specifically Al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah, and Gaza City—and will continue daily from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. until further notice.
In addition, the IDF designated secure corridors for humanitarian convoys from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily, enabling the safe distribution of food and medical supplies throughout Gaza.
"The IDF will continue to support humanitarian efforts on the ground while maintaining offensive operations against terror groups in Gaza to protect Israeli civilians," the military said. "The army remains prepared to expand its activities as needed."
Overnight, the Israeli Air Force carried out its first-ever humanitarian airdrop into Gaza, delivering seven pallets of aid - including flour, sugar, and canned goods - funded by international partners.