7 Israeli Soldiers Blown Up by Hamas in Gaza

Seven Israeli soldiers were blown up by a Hamas terrorist in one of the deadliest attacks on its armed forces in Gaza in months, the Jewish state announced Wednesday.

The soldiers were on patrol Tuesday in the southern city of Khan Younis when the terrorist attached a bomb to their armored vehicle, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

“Helicopters and rescue forces were sent to the spot. They made attempts to rescue the fighters, but without success,” IDF spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said.

The soldiers were named on Wednesday as Lt. Matan Shai Yashinovski, 21; Staff Sgt. Ronel Ben-Moshe, 20; Staff Sgt. Niv Radia, 20; Sgt. Ronen Shapiro, 19; Sgt. Shahar Manoav, 21; Sgt. Maayan Baruch Pearlstein, 20; and Staff Sgt. Alon Davidov, 21.

The terrorist planted a bomb on the soldiers’ Puma armored combat engineering vehicle while they were driving through the city, according to an IDF probe reported by the Times of Israel.

The blast set the vehicle on fire and all seven soldiers were killed in the blaze, according to the IDF.

The charred remains of the vehicle were later towed out of Gaza.