Israel’s Foreign Ministry, on October 29, confirmed the death of Master Sergeant (Res.) Yona Efraim Feldbaum, 37, was killed during a militant attack.
Feldbaum, a father of five from Zayit Ra’anan (Neria) in the Binyamin Regional Council, was operating heavy machinery when Palestinian militants ambushed his unit in the Jenina neighborhood of Rafah.
He was killed on the afternoon of October 28, 2025, in the Jenina neighborhood of Rafah, southern Gaza Strip.
“We mourn the loss of Master Sergeant (Res.) Yona Efraim Feldbaum… Our hearts are with his family and loved ones,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The incident occurred in an area under Israeli control, east of the “Yellow Line”, which was established under the recent ceasefire agreement.
How Israeli Master Sergeant Was Killed
According to an IDF preliminary report, heavily armed militants emerged from a tunnel and attacked Israeli troops using assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs).
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Feldbaum was reportedly operating an army excavator that was struck during the ambush. The IDF described the assault as a serious ceasefire violation that reignited tensions barely three weeks after the truce between Israel and Hamas took effect.
“The incident represents a grave breach of the ceasefire agreement. The IDF will continue to defend Israeli citizens and act decisively against any threat to our forces,” the IDF said in a statement following the attack.
Israelis Retaliation
Following the incident, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered what he termed “powerful strikes” against Hamas-linked targets across Gaza, including in Rafah and Gaza City near Al-Shifa Hospital.
Israeli air raids reportedly killed between 33 and 60 Palestinians and left others wounded, according to local health officials.
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The first wave of Israeli strikes targeted the border zones where the ambush occurred. Reports indicated at least nine deaths from the initial explosions and dozens of injuries after subsequent strikes hit residential areas. Witnesses described the bombardment as “intense and continuous”, leaving several homes destroyed.
Several neighbourhoods, including Sabra and al-Shati refugee camp, were hit overnight. A multi-storey residential building was reduced to rubble, killing at least four civilians and injuring several more. Rescue workers continued to search through the debris for survivors.
Explosions occurred near the courtyard of Al-Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s largest medical facility. According to Dr Mohammed Abu Salmiya, the hospital’s director, three blasts caused panic among patients, but no direct hits were recorded on the hospital itself.
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Photograph: Mohammed Ibrahim/Unsplash
