Newly-wed IDF reservist killed in attempted Hamas kidnapping

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Hamas terrorists attempted to abduct newly-wed Israeli reservist soldier, killing him in the attempt – and then tried to take his body into captivity.By World Israel News StaffAn IDF reservist soldier serving in the southern Gaza Strip was killed by Hamas terrorists during an abduction attempt on Wednesday morning.An Israeli military spokesperson announced Thursday morning thatMaster Sergeant (res.) Abraham Azulay, 25, from the town of Yitzhar in Samaria, was killed in battle in the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis.Azulay, an operator of engineering equipment in the Southern Command’s engineering unit, was a newly-wed, having married his wife, Ruth, just three months before the fatal attack.According to the preliminary IDF investigation into the incident, a cell of Hamas terrorists ambushed a group of Israeli soldiers, after the terrorists emerged from a hidden tunnel entrance.The terrorists attempted to abduct Azulay, who had been operating engineering equipment.“According to an initial investigation, during IDF operations in Khan Yunis, terrorists emerged from underground and attacked an IDF force,” the IDF said late Wednesday night.A struggle ensued as the terrorists attempted to kidnap Azulay. Azulay was shot and fatally wounded during the botched abduction attempt.“During the attack, the terrorists attempted to abduct a soldier serving as a digger operator. The soldier resisted them, and the terrorists shot and killed him.”Even after he was killed, the terrorists attempted to abduct Azulay’s body and take it into captivity, but were foiled.“Security forces in the area opened fire at the terrorists, struck several of them, and thwarted the abduction.”A Hamas Telegram channel acknowledged that an attempt to abduct an IDF soldier was foiled, claiming that terrorists stole his weapon instead.“This morning, Al-Qassam combatants launched a raid on a gathering of enemy soldiers and military vehicles in the area of Abasan al-Kabira, east of Khan Yunis city in the southern Gaza Strip,” Hamas said.“They targeted a Merkava tank and a Zionist armored personnel carrier with ‘Yasin 105’ shells. Additionally, they struck two military excavators with the same type of shells.”“Following the strikes, the [terrorists] advanced toward the enemy soldiers and engaged them with light weapons. They attempted to capture one of the soldiers, but due to field conditions, were unable to do so and instead killed him and seized his weapon. The fighters observed the landing of a helicopter for evacuation.”The post Newly-wed IDF reservist killed in attempted Hamas kidnapping appeared first on World Israel News.