The soldier, a sergeant in a Golani Brigade unit, joined the army after studying in a yeshiva. His friends said he was very affected by the expulsion of the Jews from Gush Katif and northern Shomron. One said he was "pure and gentle, who loved his Torah, nation and land, and who was destroyed by the scenes of destruction." Though he did not take part in the actual expulsion, he and his unit guarded Arab areas adjacent to N'vei Dekalim and Shirat HaYam. The IDF is investigating the circumstances of his death. His funeral will depart from Efrat at 1 PM this afternoon, and he will be buried at the Mt. Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem.