IDF Capt. Reei Biran, 21, was killed in the southern Gaza Strip on Thursday, the military announced on Friday.
Biran served as a squad commander in the Golani Reconnaissance Unit. He was promoted to captain after his death.
The commander was killed during a battalion operation, while troops were demolishing buildings, according to Army Radio. Troops were rigging buildings suspected of serving as terrorist infrastructure with explosives, which went off about two hours after the buildings were rigged. The IDF is still investigating the incident.
“We grew up in a home that encouraged significant combat service,” Biran’s older brother told Reshet Bet. “Our father was a lieutenant colonel, as was our grandfather and two other uncles. I personally am also a reserve soldier, and last Sunday I left Jabalya. Reei entered a few hours after me on Monday. He was a principled child... He was a friend, he was a commander, he was an officer.”
Biran’s family recently moved to Shoresh, after living in Timrat, according to the Jezreel Valley Regional Council. He graduated from the WIZO Nahalal School.
Casualties since last ceasefire
The funeral took place on Friday at the cemetery in Moshav Nahalal.
Since the last ceasefire, 41 soldiers have been killed in Gaza.