2 Israeli soldiers killed by drone blast in ‘friendly fire’ incident in northern Gaza

Two Israeli soldiers were killed when an Israeli army drone exploded in the northern Gaza Strip in a “friendly fire” incident, the military said Friday.

The army said in a statement that the two soldiers were killed in an incident in northern Gaza on Thursday, while Israeli media reported that an army drone crashed inside a military position and exploded when the soldiers approached it.

The Israeli daily Maariv identified the soldiers as reserve Sgt. Ofek Malam, 23, and reserve Sgt. Nadav Keili, 24.

Soldiers from the 16th Brigade were operating a drone in northern Gaza when it crashed inside an Israeli military position for reasons that remain unclear, the daily reported.

“The drone exploded when the two soldiers approached it to inspect it,” the report said, adding that the army suspended operations of that type of drone pending the completion of a preliminary investigation.

Israeli Channel 12 also reported that the army launched an investigation into the soldiers’ deaths, saying the incident occurred Thursday afternoon at one of its positions in northern Gaza.

A ceasefire agreement has been in effect in the Gaza Strip since October 2025 under a plan announced by US President Donald Trump, while Israel continues to violate the agreement.

Israel, with US support, launched its genocidal war on Gaza on Oct. 8, 2023, killing more than 73,000 Palestinians and injuring over 174,000 others, mostly women and children.