Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
The commander of Israel’s elite Golani Brigade said Friday that the unit has lost 127 soldiers since the outbreak of the Gaza war on October 7, 2023 one of the highest casualty figures reported by any Israeli ground formation involved in the conflict.
In comments published by Yedioth Ahronoth, the commander acknowledged that the losses pose “a major challenge to the brigade, both morally and operationally,” while insisting that the unit “remains capable of carrying out all missions assigned under current military plans.”
The figure highlights the intensity of the fighting that has raged for more than two years, involving heavy airstrikes, prolonged urban combat, and repeated ground incursions into the Gaza Strip. The Golani Brigade, one of the Israeli army’s oldest and most battle-hardened infantry formations has been at the forefront of many of the fiercest battles in northern and central Gaza.
Military analysts cited by Israeli media said the disclosure served a dual purpose: honoring the scale of the brigade’s sacrifice while also signaling the depth of Israel’s ongoing challenges in Gaza.
“This number is not just statistical,” one former IDF officer told Channel 12 News. “It reflects the toll of nearly continuous combat in some of the most difficult environments the Israeli army has faced in decades.”
According to official figures released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), a total of 921 soldiers have been killed and 6,367 wounded since the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel in October 2023 triggered the ongoing conflict.
The Golani Brigade, part of the Northern Command, has historically been tasked with complex ground operations, often leading assaults in urban and fortified terrain. During the current war, its units have been heavily engaged in battles in areas such as Gaza City, Khan Younis, and the Jabalia refugee camp, where fighting has been particularly fierce and casualties among both soldiers and civilians have been high.
Israeli media noted that the IDF’s unusually candid disclosure about losses within a specific brigade may also reflect growing domestic concern about the war’s toll and its uncertain trajectory. The conflict, which has entered its third year, continues to exact heavy costs on both sides, with no clear end in sight.
