IDF Announces Death of Soldier in North Gaza, Bringing Israeli Ground Offensive Death Toll to 251

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Tuesday announced the death of a soldier killed during an operation targeting Hamas at Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza, bringing the Israeli death toll of the ongoing ground offensive against the Palestinian terror group to 251.

Warrant Officer Sebastian Haion, a 51-year-old commander in the 401st Armored Brigade from Rosh HaAyin, was killed during battle, the army said.

The announcement came hours after the IDF announced the death of Staff Sgt. Matan Vinogradov, 20, of the Nahal Brigade’s 932nd Battalion, from Jerusalem. He also died fighting Hamas in the area by Shifa Hospital, which according to the US and Israel has been used by the terror group to run military operations and even hold hostages.

Israeli forces killed Hamas’ head of internal security in Gaza during its counter-terrorism operation in the hospital and, according to a statement on Monday, found a large cache of weapons in a room next to where the terrorist was found.

With the announcement of Haion’s death, a post from his Facebook page went viral in which he said, “We have no other home and we cannot afford to lose. We must win.”

Israel launched its ground offensive in Hamas-ruled Gaza following Hamas’ Oct. 7 massacre across southern Israel, in which the Palestinian terrorists killed 1,200 people and kidnapped 253 others as hostages.

The latest raid on Shifa Hospital came months after international pressure trying to prevent the IDF from entering the complex, fearing the army would kill doctors and patients. The Israeli army ended up eliminating most of Hamas’ terror infrastructure in the hospital, and the Jewish state offered both fuel and incubators to the medical facility.

Israel killed over 50 terrorists at the hospital in its latest operation and arrested several others, according to the IDF.

In total, “more than 200 terrorists have been arrested at the hospital,” said IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari. “The terrorists there took care of themselves first, at the expense of patients and civilians who were in the hospital. Hamas uses civilians and patients as human shields. We will continue to attack wherever Hamas tries to restore its hold.”

Hagari added, “The IDF began the operation following established intelligence information that required immediate action. We know that Hamas officials have regrouped in Shifa and are commanding operations against Israel from there. Our focused activity is not only an operational necessity, it is a global obligation. We call on all Hamas terrorists hiding in hospitals to surrender immediately. It is forbidden to use medical facilities for terrorist purposes; Hamas must be held accountable.”

 The IDF expects that the raid will continue for a few days, with Hagari saying, “We have more buildings to search in Shifa, and we know of additional terrorists in the area.”