fallen IDF soldiers

Widow of fallen soldier Maoz Fenigstein marries his friend

Odeya Fenigstein, whose husband Maoz fell in Gaza, weds Elhanan Atiya, a close friend of Maoz.

Mother of fallen soldier: 'I haven’t yet absorbed the reality'

'It still feels like he’s away on duty,' says Tehila Van Gelder, mother of Staff Sergeant Omer Van Gelder, who was killed in Gaza, describing her son's enduring smile, his dream of becoming a doctor, and his deep sense of mission.

MDA:

Omer was a volunteer who saved many lives

IDF Soldier and MDA Volunteer Staff Sergeant Omer Van Gelder fell in battle in Gaza, 'He was deeply dedicated to everything he did — both in MDA and during his military service,' Zaki Heller, MDA Spokesperson says.

World lost a great soul:

Staff sergeant Omer Van Gelder laid to rest

Family and friends pay heartfelt tribute to Staff Sgt. Omer Van Gelder, 22, of the Givati Brigade, who was killed in northern Gaza, remembering his selflessness, bravery, and enduring impact.

Omer's mother mourns:

'My firstborn son. A tremendous loss'

Omer Van Gelder, a dedicated MDA volunteer and aspiring doctor, will be buried at Mount Herzl; family mourns 'a tremendous loss' after deadly IED attack in Jabaliya.

Remembering Omer:

'Giving was a core value for him'

The principal of the school where Omer Van Gelder studied eulogized him after the IDF announced that he had been killed in action.

David Libi, killed in Gaza, won't be recognized as fallen soldier

Despite performing military duties and facing identical risks, 19-year-old David Libi will not be recognized as an IDF casualty due to his status as a civilian contractor.

Thousands of cyclists ride for fallen officer

More than 1,000 cyclists from across Israel completed the annual memorial bike ride honoring Yitzhak Bunish, the Hebron security officer killed in a terrorist shooting at the Worshippers' Path 22 years ago.

'She died of a broken heart'

Liel Buchris, sister of fallen IDF hero, dies of cancer

Months after losing her brother, Maj. Chen Buchris, Liel Buchris passes away from cancer at age 34. Her family believes grief overwhelmed her. 'October 7 hasn’t ended.'

Friend of fallen soldier: ‘He was just a 20-year-old angel’

Sergei Marchenko, a family friend of Staff Sergeant Danilo Mocanu, mourns the 20-year-old soldier killed in a Gaza building collapse, calling him 'an angel boy' and criticizing military tactics and Knesset leadership.

Cleared for publication:

Staff Sergeant Danilo Mocanu fell in Gaza

Staff Sergeant Danilo Mocanu from Holon killed in building collapse during combat in southern Gaza. One other soldier lightly wounded. 858 soldiers have fallen since the start of the war.

IDF inquiry:

Sergeant Yosef Yehuda Chirak was killed by friendly fire

The preliminary investigation found that while SGT Chirak was working to inspect a tunnel shaft in northern Gaza, a force that was securing the area shot him.

'A Gift Of 22 Years':

Parents of Yosef Chirak eulogize their fallen son

Hana and Peretz, the parents of fallen soldier Yosef Yehuda Chirak eulogized him today after he became the first casualty of Operation Gideon's Chariots.

Mourning in Binyamin:

Sergeant Yosef Yehuda Chirak from Harasha fell in the Gaza Strip

Sergeant Yosef Yehuda Chirak from Harasha in Binyamin fell during combat in the northern Gaza Strip. He was only 22 years old and recently married.

'We live with him — without him':

Wife of slain officer speaks of loss and light

Hadas Hershkowitz shares the life and legacy of her husband Yossi, a beloved educator and IDF commander, whose values and voice continue to guide his family and students after his death in Gaza.

Israel Dog Unit honors fallen soldier at Gush Etzion exhibition

The tribute consisted of an exhibition dedicated to the special needs community in the town of Gevaot in the Gush Etzion region.

76 Years Later:

Missing soldier laid to rest

In a poignant development decades in the making, the IDF has announced the successful identification and location of Arthur Gasner's burial site 76 years after he was killed in action during the 1949 operation in the Lachish District.

43 Years Later:

Tzvi Feldman laid to rest

After more than four decades missing in action, Staff Sergeant Tzvi Feldman, killed in the 1982 Battle of Sultan Yaqub, was finally laid to rest in Israel today.

Four Decades Later:

Recovery of Tzvi Feldman may lead to legendary spy Eli Cohen

Several bodies were exhumed during the operation. Foreign media reports that Israel is checking whether one of them might be that of 'our man in Damascus.'

Outrage at military cemetery:

Bereaved families outraged by disrespect at military cemetery

Grieving parents discover decorated stones from soldiers’ graves discarded in pile ahead of Memorial Day; Defense Ministry blames cleaning error.

Survivor dies 2 weeks after her great-grandson fell in Gaza

96-year-old Holocaust survivor, Magda Baratz, passes away two weeks after her great-grandson Asaf Cafri fell in Gaza.

'We're ready'

Fallen soldier spoke with Arutz Sheva before enlisting

Sgt. Yishai Urbach, killed in Gaza two months after his wedding, is remembered as a devoted soldier and beloved husband whose faith, courage, and commitment to Israel define his life and sacrifice.

Heroism and sacrifice:

The last words of Sergeant Yishai Urbach before his fall in Gaza

Yuval, Yishai Urbach’s widow, recalls his final conversation, as he prepared for a mission of strength and honor fighting for his people and country. 'I am proud of him.'

'Let It Be':

Family honors fallen father in the house where he died in Be'eri

The children of Elhanan Kalamanson gathered in the house where he was killed in action in the October 7th massacre to honor him among the 33 Israelis killed defending Be'eri.

Cleared for publication:

Two IDF soldiers fell in battle in Gaza

Sergeant Yishai Elyakim Urbach and Staff Sergeant Yam Frid fell during combat in the southern Gaza Strip. Four other soldiers seriously wounded. A total of 856 soldiers have fallen since the start of the war.

Cleared for publication:

SGM Dejen Daniel Sahalo killed in operational accident near Gaza

Sergeant Major (Res.) Dejen Daniel Sahalo, a combat soldier in the 5067th Engineering Battalion, was killed in a car accident during operational activity in the area of the communities near the Gaza Strip.

Keshet academy bids farewell to fallen soldier

Rabbi Shilo Marom from the Keshet pre-military academy said goodbye to his student Captain Noam Ravid, who was killed in action today in Gaza.

Sergeant Niv Dayag, 19, killed in accident in Golan Heights

Sergeant Niv Dayag, 19, killed in a car accident during operational activity in the Golan Heights; two other soldiers injured.

Bereaved father:

'We are not families of bereavement, but families of heroism'

'Yom Hazikaron is a day of brokenness, meriting Independence Day,' Rabbi Yoram Eliyahu, father of Sergeant first class (res.) Yedidya Eliyahu, who fell in Gaza, says.

Fallen soldier's brothers:

We mourn his loss, on Independence Day we will celebrate for him

The three brothers of Lieutenant Shahar Ben Nun speak to Arutz Sheva and describe their feelings on the first Memorial Day as bereaved brothers.

Yom Hazikaron:

Our Daniel fell 150 meters from Sinwar the monster

'It is important that Israel not only remember, but also embrace the character and values of the fallen into their hearts. These are noble souls. Let us be worthy of them,' bereaved father Shlomo Toaff says.

Dramatic testimony:

Yochai jumped on a grenade, his friends attacked with knives

'We will not be taken hostage,' Nimrod Eliraz, sole survivor of the Nahal Oz command center, recounts how four soldiers fought for hours against Hamas terrorists, without ammunition.

Cleared for publication:

Ido and Neta fell in battle in Gaza

Captain Ido Voloch, 21, of the Armored Corps, and Sergeant Neta Yitzhak Kahana, a Border Police officer, fell in battle in Gaza.

Father learns of son's death while on his way to Bergen-Belsen

Hagai, father of Master Sergeant Asaf Cafri who fell in battle in Gaza, received the news of his son’s death while in Germany with his 96-year-old Holocaust survivor grandmother.

Cleared for publication:

Master Sergeant Asaf Cafri fell in battle in northern Gaza

Asaf Cafri, who served as a tank driver in the 79th Battalion, 'Machatz' Brigade (14th), fell during combat in the northern Gaza Strip.

Ahead of Memorial Day 5785:

The number of Israel's fallen stands at 25,417

Since last Memorial Day, 316 fallen soldiers have been added to the tally, along with 61 disabled veterans who passed away due to their disabilities and were recognized during the year as fallen soldiers of Israel's wars.

Herzog writes letter in Torah scroll honoring fallen soldier

Eternal Heroism: President Isaac Herzog and leading rabbis write letters in Torah scroll dedicated to memory of Sergeant Segev Schwartz, who jumped on a grenade to save dozens of his comrades.

Independence Day ceremony

Rabbi whose two sons fell in 10.7 battles to light torch

On October 7th, 2023, Rabbi Shmuel Slotki presided over the IDF team that worked to search for bodies in southern Israel. At the same time, his sons, Yishay and Noam, went to fight the terrorists and lost their lives doing so.

Father of murdered lookout:

'My daughter deserves to be buried in military cemetery'

Lookout Hadar Miriam Cohen's father has been fighting for 18 months for the regional cemetery where she was buried to be recognized as a military plot.

G'haleb Sliman Alnasasra from Rahat fell in battle in Gaza

Command Sergeant Major G'haleb Sliman Alnasasra, 35 years old from Rahat, fell in battle in Gaza; two soldiers injured.

Leftist activists block bereaved father

Leftist activists prevent bereaved father Tiran Yaakov from approaching encampment supporting Jewish presence in Gaza, 'Hatred surpasses respect for the fallen.'

Captain Omer Neutra's Way

Road in Long Island named for abducted fallen soldier

Manetto Hill Road in Plainview was renamed Captain Omer Neutra's Way, commemorating the late Captain Omer Neutra, an American-Israeli citizen whose body is being held by Hamas.

Bereaved mother:

'I'm not afraid of Iran, but of the chaos among us'

Nirit Rauchberger, mother of fallen IDF soldier Captain Shilo Rauchberger, who was killed in battle on October 7, describes her son's personality and talks about the new memorial being built for him in Eli.

Tragedy in northern Israel:

Sergeant Yosef Haim Tzvi Serlin, 19, dies

Sergeant Yosef Haim Tzvi Serlin, 19 years old from Jerusalem, declared dead after collapsing following training exercise in northern Israel. IDF investigating.

IDF soldier found dead on military base

Ronen Portnoi was found lifeless last Saturday on an IDF base. Military police are investigating the circumstances of his death.

Watch:

Popular Israeli singer sings in memory of fallen soldier

Popular Israeli singer Ilanit invites Michal, sister of fallen soldier Shaul Greenglick, to sing together on stage in memory of her brother.

The holiness of fallen religious and nonreligious IDF soldiers

Thanks to the fallen soldiers of the IDF, the people of Israel live! Thanks to those brave soldiers who risked their lives for the rebirth of Israel, the State of Israel exists!

Emotional:

Newborn nephew named after IDF soldier who fell in Gaza

Sister of Sgt. Yehonatan Elias, who fell in Gaza last year, names her firstborn son after her brother.

Moving:

Murdered lookout's handwriting preserved in book title

In moving gesture, handwriting of murdered Nahal Oz lookout Sgt. Yael Leibushor turned into font adorning new book on the weekly Torah portion.

Bereaved uncle to Knesset:

'To the enemy, we're all the same - we must win this war'

Uncle of Captain Avraham Ben Pinchas, who fell in Gaza, 'The enemy wants to destroy us, they don't differentiate whether we are wearing a yarmulka or not. We must win this war.'

Pain mixed with joy:

How a fallen hero's family celebrated Purim

Rachel Goldberg, wife of fallen soldier Avi Goldberg, talks about celebrating Purim despite the difficult pain of the loss and explains the significance behind the family's special costume.

In memory of Rabbi Avi Goldberg

Fallen hero's family's emotional Purim costume

The family of Captain (Res.) Rabbi Avi Goldberg dressed up this year as an 'IDF draft order,' as a tribute to their father who fell in battle in Lebanon.

Freed hostage Eliya Cohen visits family of fallen soldier

Hamas captivity survivor Eliya Cohen came with his mother Siggi to the home of the Kauders family in Tzur Hadassah to thank them for the part played by their husband and father, First Sergeant Refael Kauders, for the role he played in Eliya's release.

Defense Minister threatens:

'Hamas will witness IDF's strength as never before'

'We'll leave no stone unturned until we bring back all our fallen,' Defense Minister Israel Katz promises at IDF memorial ceremony.

Bereaved mother:

'I laughed and cried like never before'

Laly Dery, mother of fallen soldier Saadia Yaakov, tells of the emotional moment the family were told Saadia's wife was pregnant.

Bereaved father:

Anyone who is found responsible must go to jail

Itzik Bonzel, father of Amit, who fell in Gaza, demands setting up a special prison unit for those responsible for the 10/7 massacre, including government ministers and IDF senior commanders.

Lookout's mother:

'She continued reporting after terrorists infiltrated'

Mother of fallen IDF lookout Sergeant Yael Leibushor, says recordings reveals that her daughter 'picked herself up with the most confident voice, continued reporting while they were in the post.'

Widow of fallen soldier announces engagement

Meitar Eliyahu, widow of Sergeant First Class (res.) Yedidya Eliyahu, who fell in battle in Gaza, announces that she is engaged to Baruch Tzuri Noked of Hebron.

Hamas terrorist spotted using magazine of fallen IDF soldier

A Hamas gunman was seen holding a Negev machine gun with a drum magazine bearing the name of an Israeli soldier killed in action during the October 7th massacre.

Cleared for publication:

Soldier dies on base in southern Israel

An Israeli soldier was found in critical condition at a southern base and later pronounced dead. Military police are investigating the incident.