Initial findings suggest Hamas fighter climbed the armored vehicle while those inside sheltered from an expected airstrike, before throwing the ordnance inside.By David Brummer, World Israel NewsIn a devastating development from southern Gaza, a preliminary Israel Defense Force (IDF) investigation on Wednesday revealed that a terrorist threw an explosive device directly into a Puma armored personnel carrier (APC), killing seven soldiers during combat operations in Khan Younis.The incident, which claimed the lives of an officer and six soldiers from the 605th Combat Engineering Battalion of the 188th Armored Brigade, occurred as the unit was operating in the Hamas stronghold earlier this week, Israel National News reported. Initial findings reported by Galei Tzahal’s military correspondent Doron Kadosh indicate that the explosive was not planted on or attached to the APC, as initially suspected, but was thrown into it from above by a terrorist who managed to approach and climb the vehicle undetected.The deadly attack unfolded as a fighter jet prepared to strike a nearby target. In accordance with IDF safety protocols, the soldiers had entered the APC to shield themselves from the expected shrapnel and debris caused by the airstrike. The vehicle was stationary and temporarily housing the troops when the terrorist exploited the brief window of vulnerability.According to the IDF’s investigation, the terrorist managed to scale the armored vehicle in a matter of seconds and toss the explosive device inside. The blast detonated almost immediately, killing the soldiers before they had any chance to react.The seven who were killed included: Lt. Matan Shai Yashinovski, 21, Ssgt. Ronel Ben-Moshe, 20, Ssgt. Niv Radia, 20, Ssgt. Alon Davidov, 21, Sgt. Ronen Shapiro, 19, Sgt. Shahar Manoav, 21, and Sgt. Maayan Baruch Pearlstein, 20. The probe confirmed there were no additional engineering explosives onboard, apart from standard standby ammunition carried by the troops.Moments earlier, another unit from the same battalion had come under attack from RPG fire and an explosive device, resulting in one soldier sustaining serious injuries and another being lightly wounded. That incident likely occurred in close proximity to the location of the fatal APC bombing.The tragic event has raised serious concerns regarding battlefield exposure during routine protective procedures. While the soldiers followed safety protocol to avoid injury from friendly airstrikes, the terrorist’s rapid approach underscores the persistent threat posed by Hamas operatives still active in the area.The IDF is continuing its investigation to determine whether tactical or intelligence gaps contributed to the breach. Meanwhile, the army emphasized that the APC itself did not malfunction, and the explosion was solely due to the externally thrown device.This attack marks one of the deadliest single incidents for IDF forces in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the war, and it serves as a painful reminder of the dangers Israeli soldiers face even during moments intended for protection.The post Terrorist hurled explosive inside APC in attack that killed 7 IDF soldiers in Khan Yunis appeared first on World Israel News.