JERUSALEM — Two Israeli reserve soldiers were killed in an operational accident after an explosive FPV (first-person view) drone they were launching crashed inside an army position in the northern Gaza Strip and exploded.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) identified the fallen soldiers as Master Sgt. (res.) Nadav Kali, 24, of Har Halutz, and Master Sgt. (res.) OfekMoalem, 23, of Jerusalem. Both served in the Jerusalem Brigade’s 7007th Battalion under the 16th Brigade.
According to initial military probes, the two soldiers were operating an explosive-laden "Atalef" FPV drone from an established military post within the Gaza buffer zone. After successfully completing an initial mission, a second drone crashed inside the outpost during takeoff for reasons that remain under investigation.
Several minutes after the crash, the soldiers approached to inspect and retrieve the downed craft. The explosive payload detonated upon contact or close inspection, fatally wounding both troops. They were evacuated to Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon, where medical staff declared them dead.
"The two were excellent, brave soldiers—one serving as a squad commander and the other as a sergeant," noted Brig. Gen. EladTzuri, commander of the 99th Division. No other personnel were injured in the blast.
Following the deadly blast, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir ordered the formation of a specialized expert panel headed by a brigadier general to investigate the exact cause of the crash and detonation.
Military investigators are examining several critical factors, starting with potential technical malfunctions such as signal loss or guidance failure during takeoff. The panel is also focusing on detonation triggers to determine why the explosive charge armed or triggered as the soldiers handled the crashed craft. Finally, officials are looking into possible spectrum interference, though the military noted that Hamas currently lacks the advanced electromagnetic warfare capabilities required to hijack such systems.
As a precautionary measure, the Israeli military suspended all operational use of small attack and munition-dropping drones across all active combat sectors until the investigation concludes.
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