Israeli military says British-born teenager has been killed in Gaza while fighting for IDF

A British-born teenager has been killed in Gaza while fighting for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), the Israeli army said.

Binyamin Needham, 19, died on Sunday and was promoted to the rank of sergeant after his death, the IDF said.

According to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Mr Needham was born in England and moved to Israel when he was eight years old, with his parents and five siblings.

The newspaper said he was from the town of Zichron Yaakov.

The outlet quoted his sister, Orly, who said: “He was so proud, and he had just finished basic training. He was happy to defend the country.

"We don't know the exact details of what happened but he was only in Gaza for two days.

"He went in on Friday and died Sunday," she added.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has not been approached for consular assistance relating to Mr Needham’s death.

It comes after the collapse of a weeklong temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas on Friday.

The IDF has since expanded its ground operation, claiming to have hit 200 Gaza targets that contained "terror infrastructure".

The death toll in Gaza has now surpassed 15,800, the Hamas-run health ministry said, with 70% reported to be women and children.

The IDF said 75 soldiers have now been killed in operations in Gaza since October 7, not including the personnel killed in the attacks themselves.

Also among British nationals known to have died while serving in the Israeli army since Hamas’s attack is 20-year-old Nathanel Young.

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