IDF Sgt. Naveh Leshem (20) Falls in Khan Younis Explosive Attack

Sgt. Naveh Leshem, a 20-year-old from Nokdim serving in Battalion 12 of the Golani Brigade, fell in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, yesterday (Monday).

Terrorists detonated an explosive device attached to the Namer armored personnel carrier carrying his unit. The attack killed Leshem instantly and wounded 10 other soldiers, four seriously, three moderately, and three lightly.

The incident occurred hours after Capt. (res.) Tal Movshovitz was killed in a separate explosion from a booby-trapped building in Khan Younis. IDF forces in Gaza have reported a surge in direct confrontations with terrorists, including increased firefights and face-to-face engagements. In Leshem’s case, the unit spotted the attackers, engaged them, and eliminated one terrorist. Tragically, the ambush still claimed Leshem's life, injuring others.

The attack follows a June 9 incident in Khan Younis, where four Maglan elite unit soldiers were killed in a building collapse, as detailed in an IDF inquiry released via Army Radio. The investigation revealed that Commando Brigade forces, tasked with encircling Khan Younis, identified several buildings suspected of being booby-trapped.

Two were destroyed by airstrikes, but a third, deemed operationally vital, was approached with caution. After drone scans, targeted firing, and a demolition charge showed no clear threats, the forces entered. On the second floor, a suspicious finding prompted the team commander to call in the elite Yahalom squad. While waiting in the stairwell, an unknown explosive device detonated, killing the four soldiers. The IDF concluded the unit acted professionally in a high-risk environment, conducting ongoing assessments to neutralize threats.