Fallen soldiers Nadav Cohen, Nachman Refael Ben Ami killed by collapsed crane in Gaza Strip

According to reports, a crane fell in the area where the soldiers were operating near the Israeli border.

Sergeant-Major Nadav Cohen and Staff-Sergeant Nachman Refael Ben Ami (photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)
Sergeant-Major Nadav Cohen and Staff-Sergeant Nachman Refael Ben Ami
(photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

IDF Sgt.-Maj. (res.) Nadav Cohen, 21, from Beit Hanan, and St.-Sgt. Nachman Refael Ben Ami, 20, from Eilat were killed in the northern Gaza Strip, the IDF announced on Thursday.

The military added that another soldier was seriously wounded in the incident, and several others were wounded to various degrees.

Due to bad weather, a crane fell in the area where the soldiers were operating near the Israeli border, according to media reports.

 IDF troops operate in the Gaza Strip. January 11, 2025. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)
IDF troops operate in the Gaza Strip. January 11, 2025. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

The military opened an investigation into the incident.

Soldiers killed since beginning of war

According to the IDF’s tally, the deaths of Cohen and Ben Ami raise the total of soldiers killed on or since October 7 of last year to 844. Of this number, 405 were killed since the start of the military’s ground operations in Gaza on October 27.

In the West Bank, the IDF said that the 828th Brigade apprehended more than 25 suspects during a counterterrorism operation in the Tammun area.

The soldiers also located facilities in the area used to produce explosives intended for terror purposes.

Overnight on Wednesday, security forces located explosives in a facility in the Nablus area and apprehended two suspects, along with more weapons and cash.