Funeral for Israeli soldier killed in Gaza combat

(25 Dec 2023) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Rehovot, Israel - 25 December 2023 1. Funeral of Master Sgt. (res.) Nitai Meisels, 30, with coffin covered in Israeli flag being brought in by soldiers, family members following 2. Various of coffin being put into the ground and people gathering at funeral 3. Mourners crying 4. Soil being placed on coffin 5. Mourners at funeral 6. Military rabbi reciting prayer for the dead 7. Pan of funeral 8. Tilt-up on soldier holding folded Israeli flag 9. Soldier holding folded Israeli flag among others at funeral 10. Various of mourners crying 11. Various of funeral, prayer being said 12. Soldiers firing in the air 13. Wreaths on grave STORYLINE: Mourners attended the funeral on Monday in central Israel of an Israeli soldier who fell on Sunday in a battle in the northern Gaza Strip. The coffin of Master Sgt. (res.) Nitai Meisels, 30, of the IDF armored brigade, was covered in an Israeli flag at the funeral. Since Friday, 17 Israeli soldiers have been killed in combat, most in southern and central Gaza – an indication of the heavy fighting in and around the southern city of Khan Younis. The mounting death toll among Israeli troops — 156 since the ground offensive began — could erode public support for the war, which was sparked when Hamas-led militants stormed communities in southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 and taking 240 hostage. Israelis still largely stand behind the country’s stated goals of crushing Hamas’ governing and military capabilities and releasing the remaining 129 captives. That’s despite rising international pressure against Israel’s offensive, and the soaring death toll and unprecedented suffering among Palestinians. The war has devastated parts of Gaza, killed roughly 20,400 Palestinians and displaced almost all of the territory’s 2.3 million people. AP Video shot by Moshe Edri =========================================================== Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel 44(0)2074827482 Email: info@. Find out more about AP Archive: Twitter: Facebook: ​​ Instagram: You can license this story through AP Archive: