Another Israeli soldier killed in Gaza
Another Israeli soldier has been killed in the Palestinian-held Gaza Strip. Another was wounded. Local media reported the news, citing the Israeli military.
The Israeli military (IDF) announced on Wednesday (May 21) that Staff Sergeant Danilo Mokanu was killed during fighting in southern Gaza on Tuesday (May 20).
Mokanu, who was just 20 years old, was serving in the 82nd Battalion, part of the IDF’s 7th Brigade. According to Israeli media outlet Y Net News, he was killed when an explosive device detonated in a building. The explosion caused the building to collapse.
Mokanu was posthumously promoted from sergeant to staff sergeant after his death, the IDF said. Another soldier was injured in the same incident and was taken to hospital for treatment.
Mokanu is the second Israeli soldier killed in Gaza since Operation Gideon’s Chariots began. The Israeli army announced on Friday (May 16) that it was launching the operation to seize and establish control over “strategic areas” in Gaza.
Earlier, on Monday (May 19), 22-year-old Sergeant Yusuf Yehuda Chirak was killed during fighting in northern Gaza, the Israeli army said in a statement. On Tuesday (May 20), the IDF said that a preliminary investigation showed that Chirak was killed by “friendly fire,” i.e. by one of its own soldiers.
The IDF said that a total of 858 soldiers have been killed since the war began on October 7, 2023. The names of these soldiers were also released on Wednesday (May 21). In addition, 70 policemen were killed.
According to a report by the Times of Israel, 329 of the 858 people were killed during Hamas attacks on the Gaza Strip border, and at least 416 were killed during ground attacks and border operations in Hamas-controlled areas.
