A staff sergeant in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was killed Wednesday in southern Gaza after being mistakenly identified as a terrorist during a search of a suspicious building, the military announced. Staff Sgt. Ofri Yafe, 21, was a member of the Paratroopers Reconnaissance Unit.
The incident occurred in the Khan Yunis area, according to the IDF. An initial investigation revealed that Yafe was killed by Israeli fire during an operation targeting a building suspected of harboring militants.
The death of Staff Sgt. Yafe prompted a strong reaction from his parents, Hadas and Yiftach Yafe, who publicly expressed their anger at the Israeli state. Speaking to the media Wednesday, they stated they held no resentment towards the army or its soldiers, but criticized the government for deploying troops in what they described as “illogical and unnecessary situations,” particularly now that all hostages have returned home. “We are angry at the state, which puts our best sons – the salt of the earth – into illogical and unnecessary situations,” Hadas Yafe said.
“Our Ofri was a magical child, a yellow chick full of light,” Yiftach Yafe added. “He devoured life every single moment. He loved his family, his friends… He gave of himself completely, always the first to volunteer.”
The Yafe family chose to donate their son’s organs in the hope of saving lives, according to reports.
Staff Sgt. Yafe’s death brings the total number of IDF soldiers killed since the start of the conflict on October 7, 2023, to 925. Five Israeli soldiers have been killed since the cease-fire took effect on October 10, according to the IDF.