Staff Sergeants Matityahu Ya’akov Perel and Kenew Kasa were killed fighting in the Gaza Strip, the IDF announced on Wednesday.
St.-Sgt. Perel, 22, from Beit El, and St.-Sgt. Kasa, 22, from Beit Shemesh, both served in the 46th Armored Battalion, 401st "Iron Trails" Brigade.
Both fell in the northern Gaza Strip, alongside a third unnamed soldier who was killed in the same incident.
The soldiers were operating together with the Nahal Brigade against local Hamas battalions over the past week.
Battling against Hamas
An improvised explosive device (IED) was detonated against the soldier's tank while they were operating inside the Beit Hanun neighborhood of Gaza City. As a result of the explosion, the tank they were in caught fire, Ynet reported.
The explosives, which weighed tens of kilograms, killed three and wounded three others.
All IDF casualties were evacuated from the area in a coordinated manner, and the tank, which overturned and was severely damaged, was towed back to base in a logistical operation after hours of complex rescue operations at the scene.
During the rescue operation, support from the IAF was needed to provide sufficient cover for the operation.
The IDF has said that it recognizes the threat posed by IEDs, with five soldiers having been killed by them in the past two weeks, including Nahal Brigade company commander Maj. Dvir Zion Revach and his deputy Cpt. Eitan Shiknazi.
The Beit El Council said, "With great sadness, we announce the death in combat of Beit El resident Matityahu Perel, son of Avraham and Leah Perel, grandson of Zvi and Shlomit Perel, and of Rachel Koren and granddaughter of Ruth Strauss, who lived a long life. Our hearts go out to the dear Perel and Koren families for their heavy loss upon learning of the bitter news. The council's staff is standing by the family and assisting in every way possible. An announcement regarding the funeral date will be made later."
The Beit Shemesh Municipality stated, "The Beit Shemesh Municipality expresses deep sorrow and great pain over the fall of the soldier Sergeant Kenew Kasa, a native of the city, who was killed during his military service in the Armored Corps. Kenew was the son of Sisai and Warkanesh and a loving brother to his five brothers and sisters. Kenew is the 18th fallen soldier from Beit Shemesh since the beginning of the war."