Two Israeli soldiers were killed, and eight others injured when a military-operated crane collapsed in Gaza overnight, the IDF announced Thursday.
The fallen soldiers were identified as Sgt. First Class (res.) Nadav Cohen, 21, from Beit Hanan, and Staff Sgt. Nachman Refael Ben Ami, 20, from Eilat, both of the Golani Brigade’s 51st Battalion. One of the injured soldiers remains in serious condition.
According to an initial investigation, strong winds caused the crane—used for holding surveillance equipment—to topple over, crashing onto a fortified military post and the soldiers’ tent. The IDF has since suspended the use of similar crane platforms and launched an inquiry into why precautions were not taken despite the weather conditions.
Nadav Cohen’s uncle, Amit Cohen, expressed his grief, saying, “This disaster should not have happened.”
The incident comes as Israel continues its phased withdrawal from Gaza following a ceasefire agreement after months of conflict triggered by Hamas’s October 7 attack, which killed 1,200 Israelis and saw 251 taken hostage. Israel’s military death toll in the operation now stands at 410.
