ISRAEL – Israeli forces have accused the army leadership of negligence following the death of 7 members of the 605th Engineering Battalion last week in an explosion that occurred in Southern Gaza.
The soldiers, from the Israeli army’s 605th Engineering Battalion, spoke to Israeli public broadcaster KAN on Friday on “systemic neglect and failure” in their combat gear.
According to the report, troops said their personal weapons, medium machine guns, and Puma armored personnel carriers frequently malfunction and do not provide adequate protection.
The Israeli army confirmed that seven soldiers were killed during an assault in Khan Younis after their armored vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device.
The army has not commented on the soldiers’ reports, staying silent on what KAN described as “one of the worst negligence incidents since the war began.”
On Wednesday, Hamas’ military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, released footage showing a double ambush on two Israeli armored vehicles in Khan Younis.
Since Israel’s Gaza onslaught began on Oct. 7, 2023, the Israeli army has reported the deaths of 879 soldiers and injuries to over 6,000 others, according to official figures.