Commando IDF soldier, Tal Lahat, killed in central Gaza Strip

Sergeant-Major (res.) Tal Lahat was killed in battle while fighting in the Gaza Strip, the IDF announced on Wednesday.

Sgt.-Maj. Lahat, 21, from Kfar Saba, served in the Maglan unit of the Commando Brigade.

Lahat fell in the central Gaza Strip.

The fallen Commando Brigade soldier was promoted from Staff-Sergeant to Sgt.-Maj after his death, and his family has been informed.

Lahat will be buried today, at 5 p.m., at the military cemetery in Kfar Saba.

Soldiers killed since October 7

According to the IDF's tally, the death of Sgt.-Maj. Lahat raises the total of soldiers killed on or since October 7 of last year to 681.  

Some 325 of this number were killed since the start of the military's ground operations in Gaza on October 27.

The "Five Fingers" movement, of which Lahat was a member prior to his enlistment, mourned his loss. Amir Menahem, founder of the movement, stated, "The best sacrifice their lives for us. Tal was a prominent member, smiling and diligent, who was a personal example and a role model for his friends in the movement."

Lahat's mother, Ronit, stated in conversation with the Army Radio that her son was "humble and full of light," adding that "if he knew how much he was being talked of, he would not have wanted that."