(../../assets/jp-logo.png)  (../../../images.jpost.com/image/upload/f_auto,fl_lossy/q_auto/c_fill,g_faces%253Acenter,h_720,w_1280/739250)  (../../_next/static/css/f2418aa3e2975e35.css)  (../../_next/static/css/0556f5c8c2d309bf.css)  (../../_next/static/css/565aaeb7116d9c08.css)  (https://www.jpost.com/_next/static/chunks/webpack-ff043bc46fda04d1.js)  (https://cdn.cookielaw.org/scripttemplates/otSDKStub.js?)  (https://rumcdn.geoedge.be/f7ae3efe-f9e8-44be-8cf9-3b564afd5f4b/grumi-ip.js)  (https://widgets.outbrain.com/outbrain.js)  (https://btloader.com/tag?o=5119785225420800&upapi=true)  (https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id=GTM-T4BJGTM)   (../../manifest.json)  (../../../images.jpost.com/image/upload/f_auto,fl_lossy/Icons/PNG/jp-favicon-16.png)  (../../../images.jpost.com/image/upload/f_auto,fl_lossy/Icons/PNG/jp-favicon-32.png)  (../../../images.jpost.com/image/upload/f_auto,fl_lossy/Icons/PNG/jp-favicon-192.png)  (https://images.jpost.com/image/upload/f_auto,fl_lossy/Icons/PNG/jp-favicon-180.png)  (https://fonts.gstatic.com)  (https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js)  Two IDF soldiers killed after Israeli drone explodes inside Gaza Strip outpost | The Jerusalem Post      (article-909641.html)                     (Jerusalem Post) (https://www.jpost.com/) (The Jerusalem Post - Israel News) (The Jerusalem Post - Israel News)    (CONFERENCES) (https://www.jpost.com/conferences) CONFERENCES  (ISRAEL NEWS) (https://www.jpost.com/israel-news) ISRAEL NEWS  (WORLD NEWS) (https://www.jpost.com/international) WORLD NEWS  (MIDDLE EAST) (https://www.jpost.com/middle-east) MIDDLE EAST  (BUSINESS & INNOVATION) (https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation) BUSINESS & INNOVATION  (DEFENSE & TECH) (https://defense-and-tech.jpost.com/) DEFENSE & TECH  (OPINION) (https://www.jpost.com/opinion) OPINION  (JP STORE) (https://store.jpost.com/) JP STORE   (https://www.jpost.com/PayWalllogin) Login    (Search) ()           (https://www.jpost.com/PayWalllogin) Login (https://payments.jpost.com/paywall/paywallpersonaldetails) Subscribe    (https://www.jpost.com/magazineprint/digitallibrary) JPOST DIGITAL LIBRARY  (https://www.jpost.com/) HOME PAGE  (https://www.jpost.com/jerusalem-report) THE JERUSALEM REPORT  (https://defense-and-tech.jpost.com/) DEFENSE & TECH  (https://www.jpost.com/tags/education) JPOST HIGHER EDUCATION  (https://www.jpost.com/opinion) OPINION  BUSINESS & INNOVATION      (https://realestate.jpost.com/) REAL ESTATE LISTINGS  (https://www.jpost.com/aliyah) ALIYAH  (https://www.jpost.com/conferences) JERUSALEM POST CONFERENCE  PREMIUM      (https://store.jpost.com/) JP STORE  Categories  ISRAEL NEWS      WORLD NEWS      MIDDLE EAST      (https://www.jpost.com/american-politics) US POLITICS  DIASPORA      (https://www.jpost.com/opinion) OPINION  PODCAST      JUDAISM      (https://www.jpost.com/kabbalah) KABBALAH  CHRISTIAN WORLD      HEALTH & WELLNESS      (https://www.jpost.com/science) SCIENCE  (https://www.jpost.com/law) LAW  ARCHAEOLOGY      (https://www.jpost.com/omg) OMG  (https://www.jpost.com/environment-and-climate-change) ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE  (https://www.jpost.com/food-recipes) FOOD & RECIPES  (https://www.jpost.com/history) HISTORY   (https://www.jpost.com/special-content) SPONSORED CONTENT  (https://www.jpost.com/advertise) ADVERTISE WITH US  (https://www.jpost.com/landedpages/termsofservice.aspx) TERMS OF USE  (https://www.jpost.com/landedpages/privacypolicy.aspx) PRIVACY POLICY  (https://www.jpost.com/contactus) CONTACT US  (https://www.jpost.com/customer-service/cancel-subscription) CANCEL SUBSCRIPTION  (https://www.jpost.com/customer-service) CUSTOMER SERVICE  (https://www.jpost.com/landedpages/aboutus.aspx) ABOUT US       (https://www.jpost.com/) Jerusalem Post /  (https://www.jpost.com/israel-news) Israel News /  (https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news) Defense News   Two IDF soldiers killed in drone accident during operation within Gaza outpost The two soldiers were operating the drone when it crashed; they went to investigate the crash site, and the drone exploded, 99th Division Chief Brig.-Gen. Elad Tzuri said.  (Share)         (https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=https://www.jpost.com/)      Follow us on Google     (Fallen soldiers Ofek Moalem, 23, and Nadav Kali, 24, are pictured following the IDF announcement of their death in the Gaza Strip. Announcement dated September 25, 2026.) (Fallen soldiers Ofek Moalem, 23, and Nadav Kali, 24, are pictured following the IDF announcement of their death in the Gaza Strip. Announcement dated September 25, 2026.)   Fallen soldiers Ofek Moalem, 23, and Nadav Kali, 24, are pictured following the IDF announcement of their death in the Gaza Strip. Announcement dated September 25, 2026. (photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT )    By (https://www.jpost.com/author/james-genn) JAMES GENN ,  (https://www.jpost.com/author/yonah-jeremy-bob) YONAH JEREMY BOB ,  (https://www.jpost.com/author/avi-ashkenazi) AVI ASHKENAZI     SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 08:22  Updated:  SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 09:49   Two IDF (https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-909387) soldiers were killed when a drone that they were operating landed and exploded within their military outpost in the northern (https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-909618) Gaza Strip , the military said on Friday.  The soldiers, who were reservists serving as part of the 16th Brigade, were initially evacuated to Barzilai Medical Center in (https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-901136) Ashkelon but were pronounced dead, 99th Division Chief Brig.-Gen. Elad Tzuri said.   The two soldiers were Maj. (Res.) Nadav Kali, 24, from Har Halutz, and Maj. (Res.) Ofek Moalem, 23, from Jerusalem.  The soldiers were operating a drone, successfully completing their first operation, Tzuri noted.  However, during the second operation, the (https://www.jpost.com/defense-and-tech/article-909415) drone crashed within their outpost in the northern Gaza Strip. The two soldiers went to investigate the crash site, at which time the drone exploded, Tzuri said.   (IDF Paratroopers Brigade operating in the Gaza Strip. Pictures released on August 24, 2026.)  IDF Paratroopers Brigade operating in the Gaza Strip. Pictures released on August 24, 2026. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)    The two were "excellent soldiers," Tzuri said, highlighting that one was a sergeant and the other a squad commander.  The 16th Brigade had been operating in this area of the northern Gaza Strip since September 10, Tzuri clarified.  No other soldiers were wounded in the incident, Tzuri added.   Defense Minister Israel Katz shared his condolences for the two fallen soldiers in a post on X/Twitter.  "At the hour when the people of Israel is preparing for the holiday, two dear families are grappling with the worst of all," Katz wrote.       "On behalf of the entire security establishment, I wish to embrace and send condolences from the depths of the heart to their families. May the memory of Nadav and Ofek be a blessing."  IDF investigating whether Hamas responsible for incident  The IDF is investigating whether Hamas utilized the electromagnetic spectrum to bring down the drone. The IDF currently believes that Hamas lacks the operational capability in the spectrum domain to carry out such a maneuver.  The investigation is also examining how the explosive device detonated as the two soldiers approached the drone. The IDF declined to specify whether it was a suicide drone or a drone designed to drop munitions.  The IDF has grounded all attack and munition-dropping drones across all combat sectors pending the outcome of the investigation into this serious incident.  Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.      See more on (https://www.jpost.com/tags/idf) IDF |  (https://www.jpost.com/tags/idf-drone) IDF drone |  (https://www.jpost.com/tags/gaza-strip) Gaza Strip |  (https://www.jpost.com/tags/uavs) UAVs |  (https://www.jpost.com/tags/drone) drone |  (https://www.jpost.com/tags/hamas-israel-war) Israel-Hamas War |  (https://www.jpost.com/tags/fallen-soldiers) Fallen soldiers    (https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=https://www.jpost.com/)      Follow us on Google           Related Articles (https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-909691) (Social media and digital online concept, man using smart phone.) (Social media and digital online concept, man using smart phone.)  Foreign Ministry aims at online youth for public diplomacy    (https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-909683) Prominent Kabbalist Rabbi David Batzri dies at 85       (https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-909679) Zamir establishes expert team to investigate drone accident      (https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-909668) (IDF soldiers patrol by the Lebanese border in northern Israel, June 9, 2026) (IDF soldiers patrol by the Lebanese border in northern Israel, June 9, 2026)  IDF restricts access to northern Israel over Sukkot   (https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-909672) (A hot day at the beach in Tel Aviv.) (A hot day at the beach in Tel Aviv.)  Tel Aviv ranks highest in Middle East in new Oxford index     (https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-909671) Nearing Oct. 7 anniversary brings IDF failures into focus      (https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-909667) MDA medics build woman's sukkah after treating her                (The Jerusalem Post - Israel News) (The Jerusalem Post - Israel News)   (jpost x) (https://x.com/Jerusalem_Post)     (jpost facebook) (https://www.facebook.com/TheJerusalemPost)         (jpost youtube) (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLLLdCANnMAdMyrXdYbSlxg)     (jpost telegram) (https://t.me/The_Jerusalem_Post)     (jpost instagram) (https://www.instagram.com/thejerusalem_post/)          (jpost linkedin) (https://www.linkedin.com/company/jerusalem-post/)            Information (About Us) (https://www.jpost.com/landedpages/aboutus.aspx) About Us  (Contact us) (https://www.jpost.com/contactus) Contact us  (Terms Of Service) (https://www.jpost.com/landedpages/termsofservice.aspx) Terms Of Service  (Privacy Policy) (https://www.jpost.com/landedpages/privacypolicy.aspx) Privacy Policy  (JPost Jobs) (https://www.jpost.com/jpost-jobs) JPost Jobs  (Cancel Subscription) (https://www.jpost.com/customer-service/cancel-subscription) Cancel Subscription  (Sitemap) (https://www.jpost.com/sitemap) Sitemap  (פרסום בג'רוזלם פוסט) (https://www.jpost.com/Advertise-in-hebrew) פרסום בג'רוזלם פוסט  (JP Store) (https://store.jpost.com/) JP Store  (Customer Service) (https://www.jpost.com/customer-service) Customer Service  (Advertise with Us) (https://www.jpost.com/Advertise) Advertise with Us    The Jerusalem Post Group (World News) (https://www.jpost.com/international) World News  (Iran News) (https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news) Iran News  (MDA Heroes) (https://www.jpost.com/mdaheroes) MDA Heroes  (The Jerusalem Report) (https://www.jpost.com/jerusalem-report) The Jerusalem Report  (Jerusalem Post Lite) (http://www.jpostlite.co.il/) Jerusalem Post Lite  (Real Estate Listings) (https://realestate.jpost.com/) Real Estate Listings  (Precious Metals) (https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/precious-metals) Precious Metals  (Travel) (https://www.jpost.com/travel) Travel  (Ono Conversation Corner) (https://www.jpost.com/tags/ono-conversation-corner) Ono Conversation Corner  (50 Most Influential Jews) (https://www.jpost.com/influencers-26/50jews-26) 50 Most Influential Jews    Tools and services (JPost Premium) (https://payments.jpost.com/paywall/paywallpersonaldetails) JPost Premium  (JPost Newsletter) (https://www.jpost.com/subscribe-daily-email) JPost Newsletter  (Ivrit Talk) (https://www.ivritalk.com/) Ivrit Talk  (RSS feed) (https://www.jpost.com/rss) RSS feed  (JPost.com Archive) (https://www.jpost.com/articlearchive/listarticlearchive.aspx) JPost.com Archive  (Digital Library) (https://www.jpost.com/magazineprint/digitallibrary.aspx) Digital Library  (לוח חגים ומועדים 2024) (https://www.maariv.co.il/jewishism/Lists-of-holidays) לוח חגים ומועדים 2024  (Lists of Jewish holidays) (https://www.jpost.com/judaism/lists-of-holidays) Lists of Jewish holidays  (חדשות מעריב) (https://www.maariv.co.il/) חדשות מעריב  (זמני כניסת שבת) (https://www.maariv.co.il/jewishism/shabat-times) זמני כניסת שבת    Sites Of Interest (Poalim Online) (https://www.bankhapoalim.com/en?refferer=Jpost&subject=hp) Poalim Online  (JNF-USA) (https://www.jpost.com/tags/jnf-usa) JNF-USA     Copyright ©2026 Jpost Inc. All rights reserved • (Terms of Use) (https://www.jpost.com/landedpages/termsofservice.aspx) Terms of Use • (Privacy Policy) (https://www.jpost.com/landedpages/privacypolicy.aspx) Privacy Policy