It has been cleared for publication that Master Sergeant (Res.) Binyamin Desta Negosa, Major (Res.) Yevgeny Zinershein, Captain (Res.) Sagie Yaakov Rubinstein, and Staff Sergeant (Res.) Erez Ben Ephraim were killed yesterday (Sunday) in an explosion at a weapons storage facility in southern Lebanon.
The incident occurred during an operation by the 226th Reserve Brigade under Division 146 in a fortified military zone in Labouna, an area where the IDF has conducted operations in the past. Over the past month, the unit had been active in the region, conducting patrols, sweeps, and clearing operations to ensure it was free of Hezbollah weapons caches.
During a patrol, the team entered an underground area where they discovered a shaft used to store munitions. The munitions exploded, resulting in the soldiers’ deaths. The IDF is investigating the incident and is examining the possibility that the explosion was caused by an IDF charge.
Master Sergeant (Res.) Binyamin Desta Negosa
Master Sergeant (Res.) Binyamin Desta Negosa, 28, from Beit Shemesh, was killed in southern Lebanon. His funeral will be held today at 15:00 at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. Community groups in Beit Shemesh called on residents to come to the “Operation Moses” community center with Israeli flags to support the family during this difficult time.
The Beit Shemesh municipality stated, “The city of Beit Shemesh deeply mourns the loss of Master Sergeant Binyamin Desta Negosa, a resident of the city who was killed in southern Lebanon while heroically defending the security of Israel and its citizens.” They added, “Binyamin Negosa is the 17th fallen soldier from the city in the current war.”
“We have not yet dried our tears from the loss of Staff Sergeant Zamir Bork, and this morning we woke up to another loss, that of Master Sergeant Binyamin Desta Negosa,” wrote Beit Shemesh Mayor Shmuel Greenberg. “The heart aches, and words fail to express the magnitude of the loss. We will forever remember his bravery in defending the people of Israel.”
A statement from the Galilee Medical Center said, “A 28-year-old reserve soldier (Binyamin Desta Negosa) was brought in yesterday, critically injured from a structural collapse in southern Lebanon. The casualty suffered burns, a head injury, and shrapnel wounds. He was treated in the trauma room, underwent resuscitation, and was later transferred to the intensive care unit, where, sadly, medical teams were forced to pronounce his death. We extend our condolences to the family and support them during these difficult hours.”
Major (Res.) Yevgeny Zinershein
Major (Res.) Yevgeny Zinershein, 43, from Zichron Ya’akov, was killed in southern Lebanon. “The entire community bows its head and shares in the family’s heavy grief. Details of the funeral will be announced separately. May his memory be a blessing,” said the Zichron Ya’akov Local Council.
Captain (Res.) Sagie Yaakov Rubinstein
Captain (Res.) Sagie Yaakov Rubinstein, 31, from Lavi, was killed in southern Lebanon. “With great sorrow and grief, we announce the death of our son Sagie Rubinstein, z”l, in combat in southern Lebanon,” said his parents, Dalia and Yoram Rubinstein. “Details of the funeral and shiva will be provided later.”
Staff Sergeant (Res.) Erez Ben Ephraim
Staff Sergeant (Res.) Erez Ben Ephraim, 25, from Ramat Gan, was also killed in southern Lebanon.
