The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat) is urgently seeking to confirm whether an Australian citizen has been killed in Gaza.

The ABC has reported that Lior Sivan, a 32-year-old reserves captain, was killed while fighting with an Israeli armoured brigade in southern Gaza. His death was covered by Israeli outlets shortly after but was not picked up by Australian media until Tuesday.

The dual citizen was called to serve in the Israeli Defence Force shortly after October 7 when Hamas, considered a terrorist group by the Australian government, killed more than 1,200 Israelis and took 240 hostages.

He was reportedly serving as a tank commander when he was killed on 19 December.

His father, Dan Sivan, told the ABC that the 32-year-old had risen out of the hatch to try shooting a Hamas fighter who had allegedly placed an explosive device on an adjacent tank.

“But it was an ambush and someone hiding behind a building launched something at him,” he said in an interview with the ABC.

In a statement, a Dfat spokesperson said it is “aware of reports that an Australian citizen has been killed in Gaza and is urgently seeking further confirmation.”

“We send our condolences to his family during this difficult time and stand ready to provide consular assistance.”

Sivan is believed to be the first Australian killed while fighting for Israel inside Gaza.

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive, Alex Ryvchin, said Sivan was “by all accounts … a special human being”, and added that “the pain of his loss is sharpened by the knowledge he leaves a heavily pregnant wife, and a two-year-old son”.

Israel has begun withdrawing some troops from Gaza, according to senior officials, but is still expecting an intense campaign to continue there for at least six months.

About 170 Israeli Defence Force soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the start of the operation.

The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry says more than 20,000 Palestinians have been killed in the fighting. The ministry does not distinguish between civilian and militant deaths, but about 70% of those killed are believed to be women and children.