Hamas ambushes kill 2 IDF soldiers in Rafah while Israel prepares for large Gaza offensive

Two Israeli soldiers were killed and several more were wounded in Gaza during two separate Hamas ambushes during operations in the southern city of Rafah on Thursday, as the Israel Defense Forces continues preparations for a planned offensive that could start at the end of next week.

“Along with all the citizens of Israel, my wife and I mourn with the families of Staff Sergeant Yishai Elyakim Urbach and Staff Sergeant Yam Fried, may their memory be blessed, who fell in the fighting in Gaza,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Friday morning.

“Our hearts go out to the dear families who lost their most precious loved ones. Elyakim and Yam fell defending the state in the war for our existence. Their heroism and courage will be etched in our hearts forever.”

According to Army Radio, Urbach was killed when terrorists launched an RPG at a building that a group of soldiers had entered to locate a tunnel shaft. The building collapsed, killing Urbach and wounding two more soldiers of the 605th Combat Engineering Battalion, one seriously and one moderately.

In a separate incident, Fried was killed when terrorists launched an anti-tank missile at forces of the 605th Battalion and the Golani Brigade while it was exiting an Armoured Personnel Carrier.

Fried was killed immediately, and four other soldiers were injured, three seriously and one moderately.

Both incidents occurred within three hours of each other, as IDF troops were operating to eliminate the last remaining terror stronghold in Rafah, in the town’s Janina neighborhood.

IDF sources told Army Radio that the last remaining terrorists are now being flushed out of the tunnel system, causing an increase in face-to-face confrontations.

Both Urbach and Fried were part of the national-religious community. Urbach (20) from Zichron Ya'akov in northern Israel and married his wife, Yuval, only three months ago.

“Yishai was one of a kind and special, he stood head and shoulders above everyone, and so it was in his personality. He was a child, but with the personality of a 40-year-old, and he was interested in the great and essential matters,” eulogized Rabbi Yoel Manovich, head of the Golan Hesder Yeshiva, where Urbach had studied.

Fried (21) was a resident of Sal’it, a settlement located on the Green Line east of Netanya. Ron Olarchik, who prepared him for four years before his enlistment, eulogized him at the ceremony.

“The first thing everyone will remember about him is his smile, which was a reflection of his soul and his broad heart… He didn't often speak words, he simply made sure to get the job done.”

Since the renewal of the fighting in Gaza, nine soldiers have fallen in battle, including six this month alone.

On Wednesday, the IDF reported that the Israeli Air Force struck more than 150 terror targets in the Gaza Strip over the preceding 72 hours, as the military prepares for a major offensive set to begin after U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to the region next week.

On Tuesday, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir said at a meeting of brigade and division commanders, “Until now, it was phase 1 of the plan for decisive defeat. During this phase, we sought to maximize the potential for a hostage deal – but Hamas remained defiant in its position.”

“Now is the time to move to phase 2 of the plan. We will expand and intensify our operations. This is the call of the hour and the gravity of the moment.”

In Wednesday’s strikes, the IDF killed a Hamas terrorist who participated in the abduction of 85-year-old Yaffa Adar. Another strike killed the terrorist Nasr Sobhi Ibrahim Jumaa, a commander of Hamas' rocket production headquarters.

“Jumaa was a senior terrorist in the unit and played an active role in the rocket manufacturing process,” the IDF said, emphasizing that “steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians as much as possible.”

In addition, Palestinian sources reported that a former prisoner who was deported from Israel to Gaza in February was killed in another airstrike. Basel al-Qur’an was born in Gaza but spent his adult life in Israel, until he was sent back after completing a prison sentence for traffic violations.