Paratrooper Ofri Yafe Killed in Friendly Fire Incident in Gaza

The State of Israel is mourning the loss of St.-Sgt. Ofri Yafe, a 21-year-old fighter in the Paratroopers Reconnaissance Unit, who was killed in a friendly fire incident during a nighttime operation in southern Gaza.

According to the IDF, Yafe was critically wounded during operations in the Khan Yunis area between Tuesday and Wednesday. He was evacuated for medical treatment but later succumbed to his injuries. The circumstances of the incident remain under investigation.

Yafe, from Kibbutz Megiddo in northern Israel, leaves behind his parents, Hadas and Yiftach, and his three younger brothers, Noy, Tzuf, and Itamar.

“We are shocked by the tragedy and cannot digest the loss of Ofri, our beloved son. This is incomprehensible,” his family wrote in a statement filled with heartbreak.

In Kibbutz Megiddo, where Yafe was raised, grief spread quickly through the tight-knit community. He was remembered as a vibrant young man, deeply loved by friends and family.

“Ofri grew up in Kibbutz Megiddo and studied at Megiddo High School, surrounded by a loving family and friends,” said Gil Lin, head of the Megiddo Regional Council. “He was a young man of values, raised to give and to show courage, with his whole future ahead of him. Our hearts are broken.”

Jezreel Valley Regional Council head Shlomit Shihor Reichman echoed those sentiments. “A brave young man, full of life and values, who chose to serve and contribute to the state out of a sense of mission and love of the land,” she said. “The pain is unbearable, and we stand beside the family in their difficult hour.”

Friendly fire incidents are among the most painful tragedies in war, compounding loss with questions that linger long after the battlefield falls silent. The IDF has stated that it is thoroughly investigating the circumstances surrounding Yafe’s death.

As Israel continues to confront complex security challenges, families across the country bear the profound cost of service. Ofri Yafe’s life, though tragically cut short, reflects the courage and commitment of a generation that steps forward to defend the Jewish state.

May his memory be a blessing.

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