Israeli soldier killed by friendly fire in Khan Younis amid Gaza ceasefire

2026-02-18 - 12:32

An Israeli soldier was killed by friendly fire in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis on Wednesday, the military announced in a statement. The soldier, a member of the Paratroopers Reconnaissance Unit, died without further details immediately provided. Israel's public broadcaster KAN reported the soldier was killed "by mistake by Israeli army fire" and that an investigation has been opened. Troop Casualties and Ceasefire Context According to Israeli military data, 925 troops have been killed since the Gaza war began in October 2023, including 471 who died during ground operations in the enclave. The friendly fire incident occurs despite a US-backed ceasefire in place since Oct. 10, which halted Israel's two-year war that has killed over 72,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and wounded more than 171,000. Ceasefire Violations Continue Since the ceasefire took effect, Gaza's Health Ministry reports Israeli forces have committed hundreds of violations through shelling and gunfire, killing 603 Palestinians and injuring 1,618 others—including a separate fatal shooting in Khan Younis earlier Wednesday on the first day of Ramadan.