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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the deaths of three soldiers operating in Gaza. Staff Sgt. Lior Steinberg, Staff Sgt. Ofek Barhana and Staff Sgt. Omer Van Gelder were members of Israel’s Givati Brigade, an infantry unit, when they were killed. Steinberg and Barhana were serving as combat medics, while Van Gelder was a squad commander, according to the IDF. The IDF confirms the deaths of, from left to right, Staff Sgt. Omer Van Gelder, Staff Sgt. Lior Steinberg and Staff Sgt. Ofek Barhana in Gaza. (IDF Spokesperson’s Unit)TENSIONS RISE AS ISRAEL STRONGLY DENIES FIRING ON PALESTINIANS AT GAZA HUMANITARIAN SITEIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted a message expressing his condolences. In Hebrew, Netanyahu wrote that he and his wife Sara sent their “heartfelt condolences to the families of our heroic fighters.”IDF international spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani also expressed his condolences in a post on X, in which he listed the soldiers’ names and ages. All three men were in their early 20s.The three men were reportedly among five soldiers in a Humvee in Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip, where their vehicle was hit by an explosive device, according to the Times of Israel, which cited an IDF probe. The other two soldiers in the vehicle were reportedly injured and have been listed in moderate condition. Palestinians make their way with belongings as they flee their homes after Israeli air strikes, in the northern Gaza Strip May 16, 2025. (REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa)IDF SAYS IT TARGETED GAZAN SCHOOL-TURNED-SHELTER TO HIT HAMAS, ISLAMIC JIHAD COMMAND AND CONTROL CENTERAccording to the outlet, the Humvee was escorting an IDF fire engine that was in Gaza to extinguish an armored personnel carrier that had caught fire. The Times of Israel reported that the cause of the fire remains unknown. The convoy was hit by several explosive devices while on its way out of Jabalia, according to the Times of Israel. Israeli soldiers fire a mortar towards Gaza from their position near the border, as seen from Israel, June 2, 2025. (REUTERS/Amir Cohen)CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThe war in Gaza has raged for more than 600 days since Hamas carried out its massacre on Oct. 7, 2023. There are still 58 hostages being held in Gaza — 23 of whom are believed to be alive, while 35 are confirmed dead and their bodies remain in Hamas’ hands. So far, 148 living hostages and 48 bodies of hostages have returned to Israel. Most recently, on May 12, Edan Alexander, the last living American held by Hamas, was returned to Israel. Rachel Wolf is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital and FOX Business.
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