Master Sgt. Abraham Azulay was shot dead as terrorists tried to abduct him during a raid in southern Gaza

An Israeli soldier was killed in the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday during a violent confrontation in which armed militants attempted to abduct him. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed the incident took place near Khan Yunis, amid ongoing fighting in the region. The slain soldier has been identified as Master Sergeant (Res.) Abraham Azulay, 25, from Yitzhar.

According to the IDF’s preliminary findings, a group of terrorists emerged from a tunnel and launched a sudden attack on the Israeli unit. In the chaos, they tried to seize Azulay. He reportedly attempted to escape but was shot dead by the militants. The army stated that the attempted kidnapping was thwarted after Israeli forces opened fire on the attackers, hitting several of them.

Azulay served as a vehicle operator in the combat engineering unit of the IDF’s Southern Command. He was a reservist who had returned to service amid the prolonged military operation in Gaza. His death marks yet another tragic loss for the Israeli army as the conflict approaches its 643rd day.

The incident comes during a period of intensified military activity, as the Israeli government continues its campaign in Gaza while negotiating a potential ceasefire agreement. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, visiting the Pentagon on Wednesday, stated that there is a “good chance” of reaching a 60-day ceasefire with Hamas. However, officials close to the talks caution that no breakthrough has occurred, though some progress has been made on issues like humanitarian aid and partial Israeli troop withdrawals.

Meanwhile, the situation on the ground remains dire. Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday killed at least 26 people in Gaza, according to local medics. Thick plumes of smoke were seen rising over a camp for displaced Palestinians near Khan Yunis—an area that has seen repeated bombing over the last month. Strikes also continued in northern Gaza, where a soldier from the 77th Armored Corps Battalion was severely injured.

Amid these developments, the families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza expressed cautious optimism. The Hostages Families Forum released a statement saying U.S. officials had conveyed a “clear understanding” that a full deal to release the hostages was “within reach.” They praised the Trump administration’s commitment and urged negotiators to keep pressing for a comprehensive agreement.

Back in Israel, sorrow echoed across towns and cities as news of Azulay’s death spread. Rehovot also mourned another loss: Corporal Liel Shoham, 20, was killed earlier this week and buried on Wednesday. Shoham served in the Golani Brigade’s 12th Battalion. Mayor Matan Dil, speaking at the funeral, said, “Our hearts are broken and our souls struggle to comprehend.”

The conflict’s regional impact also continued to unfold. Sirens blared across Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and central Israel after the IDF detected a missile launched from Yemen by the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels. Israeli air defence systems responded immediately to intercept the incoming threat.

Internationally, Netanyahu met with U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in Washington, where they discussed the Gaza war, Iran, and the controversial Operation Midnight Hammer, hailed by both leaders as a model of decisive military success. Hegseth stressed the need to bring all hostages home and support Israel’s regional security.

Despite diplomatic overtures, on the ground in Gaza, war continues. The killing of Master Sergeant Abraham Azulay in an attempted abduction highlights the brutal, close-range combat still unfolding—where tunnels, bullets, and seconds separate life from death.