Israeli army kills another soldier in 'friendly fire,' bringing such fatalities to 9 in recent days

By Abdel Raouf Arnaout

JERUSALEM (AA) – The Israeli army has killed another soldier in "friendly fire," bringing the total number of such fatalities to nine in recent days, as an Israeli helicopter opened fire on a house in Gaza believed to be the home of Hamas resistance fighters but it was occupied by Israeli troops.

The Israeli soldier was killed in the Gaza Strip by “friendly fire” from an Israeli helicopter, the Israeli Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported on Friday.

“In recent days, an Israeli Air Force helicopter attacked a house containing soldiers in the Gaza Strip by mistake, killing one of them," the newspaper said, without specifying the location or date of the incident.

The report explained that the incident occurred when "the ground forces asked the Apache helicopter pilots for air support against ‘militants’ who were discovered nearby."

“The two pilots responded to the request, but due to incorrect firing from the ground, they attacked the building in which the soldiers were located,” it added.

The name of the soldier was not disclosed, at the request of his family, the daily said.

“The incident is under investigation,” the newspaper quoted the Israeli army.

The Israeli army did not issue an official confirmation regarding the incident.

This is not the first time the Israeli army has killed its soldiers in what it calls "friendly fire."

Eight Israeli soldiers were killed in one week in northern Gaza as a result of friendly fire and an explosive device, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported Tuesday.

The Israeli army said at least 418 soldiers have been killed since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict on Oct. 7.

Israel resumed its military offensive against the Gaza Strip on Dec. 1 after the end of a weeklong humanitarian pause with the Palestinian group, Hamas.

At least 17,177 Palestinians have been killed and more than 46,000 others injured in relentless air and ground attacks on the enclave since Oct. 7 following a cross-border attack by Hamas.

The Israeli death toll in the Hamas attack stood at 1,200, according to official figures.

* Writing by Ikram Kouachi