Sgt. Maj. Asael Babad, a reservist from the West Bank settlement of Bnei Adam, has died from wounds sustained during a Hamas attack in southern Gaza in October. Babad was seriously injured when Palestinian operatives attacked soldiers in Rafah, emerging from a tunnel and firing rocket-propelled grenades and sniper fire at Israeli forces. The attack resulted in the deaths of two soldiers and injuries to several others. Babad's passing raises the number of Israeli fatalities in the ongoing ground offensive and border operations to 477.