Contractor employee operating for IDF mistakenly killed by IDF troops in Gaza
The IDF added that an investigation had been opened into the incident.
A contractor employee operating for a company that carries out engineering operations for the IDF was mistakenly killed by the IDF in the central Gaza Strip on Tuesday.
The IDF added that an investigation had been opened into the incident.
The employee was later named by Israeli media as 39-year-old Kobi Avitan from Eilat.
He left behind a wife and three children.
Avitan was shot after being falsely identified as a terrorist, according to the reports.
"Kobi was a man with a huge heart. We can't fathom that we're speaking about him in the past tense. Whatever we needed, he was the first to come and help, always volunteering," Nati Twitto, a friend of Avitan, said.
"He volunteered in many places, in anything he could help with—he was there. This is a massive tragedy. Everyone is shocked and in disbelief, unable to comprehend that Kobi is no longer with us," he added.
'Devoted to the people of Israel'
"Kobi was a man of kindness who dedicated his life to the community and devoted himself to the people of Israel," The ZAKA organization for which Avitan volunteered noted.
"As part of his volunteer work with ZAKA, Kobi took action in every event, even in the most difficult and complex situations.
"Years ago, when he joined ZAKA, Kobi wrote to ZAKA Eilat commander Rabbi Shimon Eisenbach, 'Any act of kindness I can do—I am ready to do it with love,' and so he did," the organization added.
