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Defense Ministry civilian contractor killed in Gaza building collapse
A Defense Ministry civilian contractor was killed in a building collapse in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, the military announced.
The contractor, who was named as Raad Abu al-Qi’an from Hura, was employed by a civilian company carrying out demolition works on behalf of the Defense Ministry in the Strip.
During the demolition works, a structure collapsed on Abu al-Qi’an while he was operating heavy machinery, killing him.
The Israel Defense Forces said his family was notified of the incident — described as an “operational accident” — and the military and Defense Ministry “share in the family’s grief.”
Abu al-Qi’an is the first Defense Ministry civilian contractor to be killed in Gaza or along the border with the Strip since the ceasefire ending the Israel-Hamas war was reached in October, and fourth since the October 7, 2023, terror onslaught that started the conflict.
A Defense Ministry civilian contractor was also killed recently in southern Lebanon amid the porous ceasefire there with Iran-backed Hezbollah.
