Sergeant Asaf Zamir, 19, from Dimona, a soldier in the Armored Corps, was killed in southern Gaza by an anti-tank missile. His parents received the news while they were overseas.
In the incident in which Sergeant Asaf Zamir fell, two soldiers in the 53rd Armored Corps Battalion, 188th Battalion were severely injured.
The soldiers were evacuated to receive medical treatment at the hospital. Since the beginning of the war, 883 soldiers have fallen in combat.
A preliminary investigation into the incident reveals that the force from Battalion 53 was conducting an attack in Khan Yunis when the terrorist fired an RPG at the tank and fled. Sergeant Zamir was killed, and three of his team members were injured. Immediately after, the company commander arrived at the location to evacuate the injured, and he was lightly wounded by shrapnel.
Dimona Mayor Benny Biton mourned Sergeant Zamir, writing, "The city bows its head. Asaf, the son of Yarden and Miri Zamir, from the large Zamir family of soldiers and security forces, grandson of the legendary policeman Zamir, and brother of Rotem and Gefen. A handsome young man, calm and modest, with great respect for others. Asaf always loved to help anyone in need, graduated with honors from Zinman High School, and was beloved and respected by all his relatives."
Mayor Biton added, "The Zamirs are a family of noble people, and Asaf is an outstanding child. This is a very hard blow for the city, and we are all in mourning."
Sergeant Zamir's father, Yarden, had previously served as an officer in the Border Police, and his grandfather, Shlomo, was a legendary policeman at the Dimona station. On Israel's 38th Independence Day in 1986, Senior Sergeant Shlomo Zamir of Dimona was chosen to light a torch at the state ceremony at Mount Herzl.
Earlier today, the name of Sergeant Yair Eliyahou, 19, from Ezer in the Be'er Tuvia regional council, who was killed in an operational accident in the northern Gaza Strip, was also released.
During an operational engineering activity, an engineering vehicle fell into an underground pit or hole, and during its fall hit another engineering vehicle operating nearby. As a result of the impact, Sergeant Eliyahou, who was operating the other vehicle, was killed.
Defense Minister Israel Katz expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of Sergeant Yair Eliyahou, a combat engineer in the northern brigade, and Sergeant Asaf Zamir, a tank crewman in Battalion 53, who were killed in fighting in the Gaza Strip.
Katz sent condolences to the bereaved families, wished a full recovery to the wounded, and praised the soldiers: "Brave fighters who are acting with courage to return the hostages and defeat the Hamas murderers."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent condolences to the families of Sergeant Yair Eliyahou and Sergeant Asaf Zamir, who fell in battle in the Gaza Strip.
"On behalf of all the citizens of Israel, my wife and I send heartfelt condolences," Netanyahu said. "The entire nation mourns the loss of our soldiers who fought heroically in the battle to defeat Hamas and free our hostages."