At least 12 IDF soldiers died over the weekend in combat operations in Gaza, with eight killed in an attack on the Namer (Leopard) APC in Rafah on Saturday. The death toll marks one of the highest since the war began.

The Israel Defense Forces stated its initial investigation indicates the APC was targeted by an anti-tank missile fired from close range behind the vehicle. The missile reportedly struck explosives stored outside, causing a larger explosion. The IDF continues to investigate.

On Sunday, 11 soldiers were laid to rest, most from the APC blast. Two reservists died in northern Gaza on Saturday, and Sgt. Yair Roitman succumbed to wounds sustained five days earlier. Another soldier died in Rafah on Sunday.

Roitman was injured in a booby-trapped building blast that killed four soldiers and injured six others.

Among the eight killed in the APC incident, the first identified was Captain Wassem Mahmoud, a Druze deputy commander. His village delayed Eid al-Adha celebrations to hold his funeral.

Mahmoud had fought since the war’s October 7 outbreak. His brother-in-law said he was injured in the October 7 Hamas attack but didn’t tell his family.

Four funerals were at the IDF cemetery on Mount Herz in Jerusalem. Three were from the APC blast, and the fourth, Elon Weiss, 49, died in northern Gaza.

Weiss and Shalom Menachem, who lived on the same Psagot street near Bet El in Samaria, were buried. Menachem died in the APC incident; Weiss in northern Gaza.

Weiss died from an explosive device used against his tank. Another reservist, Captain Eitan Koplovich, 28, died in the same explosion that seriously injured two others.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attended Weiss’ funeral. He was a community leader and one of the oldest soldiers killed, with seven children and recently a grandparent.

Since the ground campaign began, 311 Israeli fighters have died in Gaza operations.