The IDF cleared for publication the names of eight soldiers who fell in battle in southern Lebanon:
Cpt. Harel Etinger, 23 from Eli, a squad commander in the Egoz Unit.
Cpt. Itai Ariel Giat, 23 from Shoham, an officer in the Yahalom Unit of the Combat Engineering Corps.
Noam Barzilay, 22, from Kochav Yair, a soldier in the Egoz Unit.
Or Mantzur, 21, from Beit Aryeh, a soldier in the Egoz Unit.
Nazar Itkin, 21, from Kiryat Ata, a soldier in the Egoz Unit.
Almken Terefe, 21, from Jerusalem, a soldier in the Golani Reconnaissance Unit.
Ido Broyer, 21, from Nes Tziona, a soldier in the Golani Reconnaissance Unit.
Captain Eitan Itzhak Oster, 22 from Modiin, a Squad Commander in the Egoz Unit of the Commando Brigade.
Eitan is survived by his parents and six siblings.
A short time later, Kiryat Ata Mayor Yaakov Peretz announced that Nazar Itkin, a resident of the city and a soldier in the Egoz unit fell in battle in southern Lebanon.
"The bitter news comes on the eve of the new year and personifies the terrible price that this war of our existence takes from the people of Israel. Our condolences to the family which received the worst possible news. We will update about the time of the funeral," Mayor Peretz stated.
"Nezer, hero of Israel, the residents of Kiryat Ata salute you. May your memory be a blessing," he added.
In addition, the Binyamin Regional Council announced that Lt. Harel Ettinger, from Eli, fell in battle in southern Lebanon.
Harel, aged 22, is survived by his mother, Tamar, and 11 siblings.
His father, Rabbi Ahiad Ettinger, was murdered in a terror attack in Samaria in 2019.
Captain Eitan Itzhak Oster was filmed this past week saying: "A person does not fight from hate of what stands before him but for love of what stands behind him."
Eitan's funeral will take place at 3:30 p.m. on Mount Herzl. The city invited all residents to come and join a chain of flag-bearing residents accompanying him on his last journey.
"Come with an Israeli flag and stand along the route to honor Eitan on his last journey," the statement read. "Flags will be distributed near the Oster home at 29 Galilee Street in Re'ut, at 1:40 p.m. May his memory be blessed."