On Saturday evening, the IDF cleared for publication the names of two additional soldiers who fell in Friday’s deadly incident in Khan Younis, when an explosive device detonated inside a structure during an operational mission. The fallen are Staff Sergeant Tom Rothstein, 23, from Ramat Gan, and Sergeant First Class Uri Yehonatan Cohen, 20, from Neve Yarak — both combat engineers in the elite Yahalom unit of the IDF Combat Engineering Corps.
The Target: Underground Terror Infrastructure
On Friday night, the names of the first two soldiers killed were published: Master Sergeant Chen Gross, 33, from Gan Yoshiya, a fighter in the Maglan unit, and Sergeant First Class Yoav Roever, 19, from Sde Warburg, also a Yahalom fighter. All four fell during a Division 98 operation targeting a booby-trapped structure on the outskirts of the Bani Suheila neighborhood in southern Gaza.
Chief of Staff Attends Probe: Investigation Ongoing
The objective of the operation was to destroy fortified terrorist infrastructure centered around a building situated above a Hamas tunnel system. According to the IDF, while the Bani Suheila battalion of Hamas had already been struck in previous maneuvers nearly a year ago, resistance and booby-traps remained in the area. The operation began at 6:10 a.m., with engineering forces entering the structure after preliminary preparations. Their mission was to examine the site and identify explosives or tunnel shafts.
During the entry, a deadly explosion occurred — believed, according to initial assessments, to have come from an explosive device planted inside the building. The investigation is still underway and includes examination of soil and structural stability in areas where forces operate, given the potential for building collapse due to repeated airstrikes in previous operations.
IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir visited the Southern Command yesterday and participated in the initial investigation of the incident. A military source said that the building had been marked and checked before entry, but the penetration process is still under extensive operational review.
Farewell to Heroic Soldiers
Sergeant First Class Yoav Roever, 19, from Sde Warburg, is survived by his parents, Lior and Gili, his sister Tamar, and his brother Omri. The Drom HaSharon Regional Council said in a statement: “Our hearts are broken. We bow our heads and share in the grief of his family and community.” Master Sergeant (res.) Chen Gross, 33, is survived by his parents, Irit and Adi, and his brothers, Mor and Raz.
Staff Sergeant Tom Rothstein and Sergeant First Class Uri Cohen, whose names were released Saturday night, also fell in operational service deep in enemy territory — their heroism, courage, and determination will be remembered forever.
