The IDF reported that two Hamas operatives, Musab Yaser Abdallah Jilban and Abd al-Latif Musa Hajjaj Barbah, were killed in a targeted strike carried out by the Israeli Air Force under the guidance of the ISA and the 188th Brigade in Khan Yunis.
These two terrorists were responsible for the deaths of seven Israeli soldiers: Lieutenant Matan Shai Yashinovski, Staff Sergeant Alon Davidov, Staff Sergeant Ronel Ben-Moshe, Staff Sergeant Niv Radia, Sergeant Ronen Shapiro, Sergeant Shahar Manoav, and Sergeant Maayan Baruch Pearlstein. The soldiers were killed during an operation in Khan Yunis on June 24, 2025.
In its statement, the IDF emphasized its commitment to ongoing counterterrorism efforts in Gaza, saying it “will continue to operate against the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip.”
On the day after the deadly incident, military journalist Doron Kadosh released early findings from the probe into what happened. The report revealed that the explosive device involved was not planted on the Puma armored vehicle beforehand, but was instead hurled inside by a terrorist during the attack.
The attack occurred amid active combat by the 188th Brigade in the Khan Yunis area. Prior to the fatal explosion, a fighter jet had been dispatched to strike a target in close proximity to Israeli forces. Around the same time, another platoon in the unit was targeted with RPGs and an explosive device, leaving one soldier seriously injured and another with minor wounds.
Standard operating procedures dictate that when an airstrike is imminent nearby, soldiers must seek cover inside armored vehicles to shield themselves from shrapnel and flying debris caused by the blast. In accordance with this protocol, seven soldiers temporarily entered the Puma APC as they awaited the strike.
The inquiry determined that during this brief window, a terrorist managed to rapidly approach and climb the armored vehicle. Within moments, he dropped an explosive directly into the APC while the soldiers were still inside. The initial conclusion of the investigation is that the soldiers were killed almost immediately when the device detonated.
{Matzav.com Israel}