IDF reports 900th death since start of Gaza war, a reservist who died in a friendly fire incident

Israel Defense Forces announced on Saturday evening the death of Sgt. First Class (res.) Ariel Lubliner (34), a fighter in the 6036th Logistics Company, 36th Division,

Lubliner was killed Friday night in the Magen Oz corridor in the Khan Younis area of the Gaza Strip. Initial reports suggest he was apparently killed by accidental friendly fire, and the incident is under investigation.

Lubliner was part of a logistics convoy delivering equipment to forces in the area when it suddenly came under light weapons fire. Within a few minutes, it became clear that the shooting was a result of mistaken identification, likely carried out by other IDF units operating in the area. The military is conducting an investigation and believes that a lack of coordination between the forces led to the tragedy. 

Lubliner was a resident of Kiryat Bialik in northern Israel, where he lived with his wife Barbara and their 9-month-old son, Lior. 

Lubliner made aliyah (immigrated to Israel) about 10 years ago from Brazil, where most of his family lives. He initially lived in Kibbutz Naan, where he learned Hebrew and met his wife, who was a recent immigrant from Spain. 

He was due to finish his current round of reserve duty on Sunday and was reportedly planning a trip to visit family in Brazil soon after. 

Kiryat Bialik Mayor Eli Dokorsky expressed the community’s grief, saying, “My heart broke at the sight of 9‑month‑old Lior, who will grow up without a father.” 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also paid tribute to Lubliner.

“Together with the entire Israeli people, my wife and I send our heartfelt condolences to the family of reserve soldier Sgt. First Class Ariel Lubliner, who fell in battle in the Gaza Strip. The late Ariel fought valiantly to maintain Israel's security, defeat Hamas, and return all our hostages.” 

Lubliner’s death brings the number of soldiers killed in the almost 23 months of fighting since Oct. 7, 2023, to 900. That number includes 311 soldiers who died during the events of Hamas’ brutal attacks on Oct. 7 and 8. Since the massacre, another 589 soldiers have died, with 456 being killed during ground operations within the Gaza Strip. Another 50 soldiers were killed in fighting in southern Lebanon during operations against Hezbollah. 

Of the 900 soldiers killed, 295 were reservist soldiers and 154 were career soldiers, and the rest were regular soldiers in their mandatory service. Additionally, the IDF said 6,213 soldiers have been wounded in the war, with 925 suffering serious injuries, 1,540 suffering moderate injuries, and 3,748 sustaining light injuries, with 2,883 being injured during ground operations inside Gaza. 

Lubliner was the 75th soldier to die in an operational accident since the start of the war. 

The announcement of Lubliner’s death came just hours after an armored personnel carrier ran over an improvised explosive device in the northern Gaza neighborhood of Zeitoun, injuring seven soldiers. 

Shortly after that incident, Hamas-affiliated social media channels, including Qatar's Al Jazeera, reported that the terror group had killed and abducted several soldiers in the attack. The IDF later refuted those claims.

Zeitoun, a neighborhood of Gaza City, is where the IDF is expected to launch in the coming days a months-long operation aimed at seizing the city from Hamas.