Last Israeli soldier to die in Gaza war? IDF reserve killed by Hamas sniper just ahead of ceasefire

A 26-year-old reserve soldier of the Israel Defense Force (IDF) was killed on Friday by Hamas militiamen in the Gaza Strip, Tel Aviv confirmed. Sgt. First Class (res.) Michael Mordechai Nachmani was taken out by an enemy sniper, Israeli media reports claimed, quoting the military. While the mediators had pushed for the immediate enforcement of the US-brokered peace deal between the two sides, Israel refused, claiming that it needed to be approved by the cabinet later in the night.

 

Sgt Michael Mordechai could be the final Israeli casualty of the invasion that has killed around 480 IDF servicemen. However, 68,000 Palestinians, mostly unarmed civilians, lost their lives in the IDF offensive.

 

Nachmani was attached to the Combat Engineering Corps' 614th Battalion when killed, media reports said. The engineering battalions are responsible for breaching the obstacles set by the enemy during warfare, thus allowing the forces to carry out their mission. Engineering troops act as an attacking force and not as auxiliary troops. "During warfare, the Combat Engineering troops operate as an infantry unit in all matters and are responsible for implementing engineering missions, such as the detonation and demolition of homes," the official IDF website claims.

WATCH | Hamas sniper kills Israeli soldier; viral video catches fellow IDF comrade running away without helping

Sgt Mordechai, hailing from Negev of the Southern District of Israel, was reportedly stationed in northern Gaza when he was killed by the Hamas sniper. "The great achievements attained are thanks to Michael, of blessed memory, and the heroic IDF fighters who fought with courage and determination against a cruel terrorist organisation," Defense Minister Israel Katz wrote in a post to X/Twitter lamenting Nachmani on Friday morning.

 

Hamas propaganda wing had earlier released multiple videos of its guerrillas taking out the "invaders" using a sniper rifle. Often hiding in the debris of high-rises, the militiamen target unsuspecting IDF soldiers with armour-piercing bullets.

Middle East