Earlier, the Israeli military had said that Staff Sergeant Ofri Yafe, aged 21, was killed in combat in southern Gaza.

However, in a message of condolence to Yafe's family, Netanyahu said he "fell in a painful friendly fire incident" in the Palestinian territory, according to a statement issued by the prime minister's office.

The death brings to five the number of Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza since a ceasefire took effect on October 10.