On Tuesday evening, additional information was released about the deaths of four soldiers in the northern Gaza Strip earlier that day. Captain Yonathan (Yoni) Keren, Staff Serjeant Nisim Meital, Staff Serjeant Aviv Gilboa, and Staff Serjeant Naor Haimov all worked in Unit 888, the IDF’s Multidimensional Unit, popularly known as the Ghost Unit. The four troops were murdered by an IED that exploded on one of the higher stories of a building in Jabaliya. Another officer from the unit was critically injured, as were two other soldiers.

The incident occurred at 3 a.m. A smaller unit force entered the building to hunt for any terrorists or weapons that might be present. The unit allegedly intended to use the building for ongoing operations in the neighbourhood. As the troop was searching the structure, an IED exploded, killing four soldiers and wounding several others. The findings of the IDF’s enquiry into the incident were shared with the families before being publicised to the media. The Multidimensional Unit was founded in 2019 under the leadership of IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi.

Soldiers frequently test new equipment and procedures before implementing them in other IDF units. Soldiers chosen for Unit 888 go through rigors testing before being accepted, which includes unique operator training as well as tests for creativity and problem solving. Although the IDF has previously operated in Jabaliya, the present operation to eradicate Hamas troops in the area is the most extensive activity in the neighbourhood since the war began. Colonel Roi Levi, the previous leader of Unit 888, killed on October 7 combating terrorists near Kibbutz Reim. He was 44 years old when he died, leaving a wife and five children.

For the past week, the Multidimensional Unit has been operating in Jabaliya as part of the combat team of the 401st Armoured Brigade. In addition to the 401st Brigade and the 460th Armoured Brigade, the Givati Brigade Combat Team has been active in Jabaliya in recent weeks. Soldiers from those brigades recently participated in the Kamal Adwan Hospital area, executing terrorists while also identifying and destroying weaponry, tunnel shafts, and rocket launchers. Many terrorists have been captured and sent to security agencies for interrogation. during allegations of numerous civilian casualties during an IDF strike in Beit Lahiya on Tuesday, the IDF announced that it is investigating the event. However, the military warned that Hamas had frequently misreported civilian fatality counts, counting its combatants.

According to Palestinian accounts, the strike killed around 90 people, including at least 20 children. The IDF urged media outlets to “be cautious with information published by Hamas, as has been demonstrated in several previous incidents.” The military also reminded the media that Beit Lahiya is an active battle zone, and inhabitants were told to leave earlier this month.