On Monday evening, the IDF released the initial findings of its investigation into the collapse of a booby-trapped building in Khan Younis, which claimed the lives of four soldiers: Master Sergeant Hen Gross, Staff Sergeant Yoav Rover, Sergeant First Class Tom Rothstein, and Staff Sergeant Uri Yonatan Cohen, may their memory be a blessing.
According to Protocol
The investigation found that the unit operated in accordance with strict scanning procedures. A suspicious item was identified on the second floor, and the team began to retreat. At that moment, an explosive device was triggered, leading to the building’s collapse.
In the days before the incident, the team carried out extensive intelligence-driven scans using drones, engineering tools, and preliminary fire. Two buildings suspected of being booby-trapped were destroyed from the air. A third building, deemed essential for the mission, was inspected using internal imaging and scans—no signs of booby-trapping were found.
The soldiers entered the structure following preliminary fire and the throwing of a breaching charge. The first floor was cleared with no threats detected, and the team began to move up to the second floor. The team commander spotted a suspicious finding and immediately ordered a retreat.
The Team Acted Professionally
The commander led the soldiers back, remained on the staircase with his radio operator, and called for Yahalom combat engineers. Moments later, the explosive was detonated. Four soldiers were killed instantly, one was critically wounded, four were moderately injured, and several others sustained light injuries.
The IDF emphasized that it is not yet possible to determine what triggered the explosion or the nature of the device.
The IDF Spokesperson stated:
“The team operated professionally in a hostile and high-risk environment and did everything possible to eliminate all potential threats.”
