IDF Reports Eight Additional Soldiers Killed in Ongoing Offensive Against Hamas

On Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported the loss of eight more soldiers in the ongoing offensive against Hamas, adding to the five announced on Saturday. The total number of soldiers killed since October 27 has now reached 152. The IDF identified the fallen soldiers, including David Bogdanovskyi (19) and Orel Bashan (20) from Haifa, Gal Hershko (20) from Yiftah, and Itamar Shemen (22) from Lapid, a paramedic with the brigade.

Master Sgt. (Res.) Nadav Issachar Farhi (30) from Herzliya and Master Sgt. (Res.) Eliyahu Meir Ohana (28) from Haifa belonged to the Yiftach Brigade, an infantry unit. Paratroopers Sgt. First Class (Res.) Elyassaf Shoshan (28) from Jerusalem and Sgt. First Class (Res.) Ohad Ashur (23) from Kfar Yona lost their lives in central Gaza.

During a temporary one-week truce from November 24 to December 1 between Hamas and Israel, Hamas released 105 hostages, while 129 hostages still remain in their captivity. Israeli authorities estimate that at least 20 of the remaining hostages have died.

In Israeli jails, thousands of Palestinians are held without trials and access to legal counsel. The Palestinian Prisoners Club reported that since October 7, Israeli forces have arrested more than 4,655 people in the occupied West Bank.

Israel initiated a ground offensive in Gaza on October 27 in response to a surprise attack by Hamas on October 7, resulting in the death of 1,200 Israelis and the taking of over 200 hostages.

Since the outbreak of hostilities, over 20,057 Palestinians have been killed, mostly children and women, while 52,286 Palestinians have been injured.