Eight more Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza Strip Overall death toll tops 150

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has announced the names of eight additional soldiers killed in fighting on December 23, bringing the number of troops killed over the weekend to 13.

Four of those killed were from the 7th Armored Brigade, all with the rank of Staff Sgt., who died in battle in southern Gaza on December 22, according to The Times of Israel.

They were David Bogdanovskyi, 19, and Orel Bashan, 20, both from Haifa, Gal Hershko, 20, from Yiftah, and Itamar Shemen, from Lapid, a paramedic who had been placed with the brigade.

Master Sgt. (res.) Nadav Issachar Farhi, 30, from Herzliya, was killed in fighting in central Gaza Saturday alongside Master Sgt. (res.) Eliyahu Meir Ohana, 28, from Haifa.

Both were from the Yiftach Brigade, a reserve infantry unit.

Sgt. First Class (res.) Elyassaf Shoshan, 23, from Jerusalem was also killed in central Gaza, as was fellow paratroopers reservist Sgt. First Class (Res.) Ohad Ashur, 23, from Kfar Yona.

Another five soldiers were seriously wounded in the battles.

Another soldier killed on December 23  was named earlier by the IDF: Cpt. Oshri Moshe Butzhak, 22, a team commander in the Nahal Brigade’s reconnaissance unit, from Haifa.

The IDF earlier also announced the names of four soldiers killed Friday: Staff Sgt. Nir Rafael Kananian, 20, of the Givati Brigade’s reconnaissance unit, from Beit Keshet; Staff Sgt. Birhanu Kassie, 20, of the Givati Brigade’s reconnaissance unit, from Beit Shemesh; Master Sgt. (res.) Shay Termin, 26, of the 55th Reserve Paratroopers Brigade’s 6623rd Battalion, from Rosh Pina; Warrant Officer (res.) Alexander Shpits, 41, of the 55th Reserve Paratroopers Brigade’s 6623rd Battalion, from Karmiel.

The deaths bring the number of troops killed since the start of a ground operation in late October to 152.