fallen soldiers

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.

Cleared for publication:

Three Givati Brigade soldiers fell in Gaza

Three soldiers from the Givati Brigade 9th Battalion killed in northern Gaza minefield.

Building where Staff Sgt. Danilo Mocanu was killed destroyed

IDF troops struck and dismantled the booby-trapped structure from which an explosive device was activated against IDF soldiers, an incident in which Staff Sergeant Danilo Mocanu fell during combat.

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.

'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.'

In honor of our fallen soldiers:

Ode to the 'Boots on the Ground'

In response to the global surge of Antisemitism. A poem.

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.

Bereaved wife eulogizes:

'You are the greatest gift I received in my life'

In a heartbreaking eulogy, wife of Sgt. Yosef Chirak who fell in Gaza speaks of the life they dreamed of together and the unbearable pain of his absence, calling him 'the greatest gift' she had ever received.

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.

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.

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.'

Sgt. Yishai Urbach was married 2 months before he fell in Gaza

Sergeant Yishai Elyakim Urbach from Zichron Ya'akov went back into Gaza 2 months after getting married, where he was killed in action.

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.

Captain Noam Ravid, Staff Sgt, Yaly Seror fell in battle in Gaza

2 soldiers from the Yahalom Unit, Combat Engineering Corps, fell during combat in the southern Gaza Strip, the IDF cleared for publication.

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.

Netanyahu puts on tefillin of fallen soldier Yossi Hershovitz

On Yom Hazikaron, the Prime Minister put on the tefillin of Maj. (res.) Yossi Hershkovitz, an educator who fell during the war.

Emotional letter written by fallen soldier to his grandmother

Adi, mother of fallen soldier Sergeant first class (res.) Idan Kenan, reads an emotional letter he wrote to his grandmother shortly before he was killed in Gaza.

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.

Minister Katz:

'IDF must always be a barrier between enemies and our citizens'

Minister of Defense Katz addressed the Memorial Day name-reading ceremony and stated: 'The goal is a clear victory - without compromises.'

Parents of fallen soldiers:

'Life goes on, but it has changed forever'

A retreat for 400 bereaved parents held by the OneFamily organization provided tools and strength for those for whom every day is Memorial Day. We must care for them as we remember their sons.

Netanyahu:

'After 10/7, the TikTok gen. proved they connect with reality'

PM tells story of fallen soldier Shaul Moyal during ceremony for Yom Hazikaron at Yad Lebanim. "The family of the bereaved is also my family."

Captain Ido Voloch:

Fallen soldier's last message

Bereaved brother of Captain Ido Voloch reads a message his brother wrote during his officers' training course, where he also mentions his friends who fell during the Swords of Iron war.

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.

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.

5 months later:

IDF recognizes Yitzhar resident Shneur Cohen as war casualty

5 months after he was killed in a grenade explosion in northern Gaza, the IDF has acceded to the family's request to add Sergeant Shneur Zalman Cohen to the list of war casualties.

IDF suspends all Krav Maga training following soldier's death

After Sergeant Yosef Haim Tzvi Serlin collapsed and died during routine training, the commanding officer of the Ground Forces decided to suspend all Krav Maga courses until Sunday.

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.

Infuriating footage:

Anti-government protesters tear down photos of fallen soldiers

Footage shows protesters tearing down banners with the photos of soldiers who fell in the war. 'In the Holy Land, which our fathers dreamt of in exile, nothing is holy anymore.'

Fallen soldier's family voices concern over renewed Gaza fighting

The parents of fallen American-Israeli soldier Captain Omer Neutra voiced concerns over Israel’s renewed military operations in Gaza, arguing that airstrikes endanger the remaining hostages rather than securing their return.

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.

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.

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.

Nadav Cohen and Nachman Refael Ben Ami fell in Gaza

Sergeant First Class (res.) Nadav Cohen and Staff Sergeant Nachman Refael Ben Ami fell in northern Gaza; eight other soldiers injured.

Two IDF reservists killed in Jordan Valley shooting attack

Sergeant Major Ofer Yung, aged 39 from Tel Aviv, and Sergeant Major (Res.) Avraham Tzvi Tzvika Friedman, aged 43, from Ein HaNatziv, were killed by a terrorist who opened fire in an IDF installation.

Moving:

'Amit's beret is now yours - wear it with pride'

Itzik Bonzel presented his daughter, Adi, with the beret that belonged to her brother, Amit, who fell in battle in Gaza.

Mother of fallen soldier:

'He said 'I won't die for no reason, I will die for Israel'

Ayelet, the mother of Staff Sergeant Liam Hazi, who fell in a clash with terrorists in Jenin shared how her son's death saved the lives of other soldiers.

2 terrorists who killed Sgt. Liam Hazi eliminated

During counterterror operation in Jenin, soldiers engaged in close-quarters combat with two terrorists who fortified themselves inside. 1 soldier was killed and 5 wounded in the battle.

5 soldiers injured:

Staff Sergeant Liam Hazi fell in Jenin

Haruv reconnaissance soldier, First Sergeant Liam Hazi from Rosh Haayin, fell during operational activity in Jenin. Another soldier from the unit was seriously injured.

Eviatar Ben Yehuda fell during operational activity

Sergeant First Class (res.) Eviatar Ben Yehuda served in the 8211th Battalion of the Efraim Brigade and fell during operational activity.

5 soldiers fell in battle in Gaza

8 other soldiers severely injured in incident in which Captain Yair Yakov Shushan, Staff Sergeant Yahav Hadar, Staff Sergeant Guy Karmiel, Staff Sergeant Yoav Feffer, and Staff Sergeant Aviel Wiseman were killed.

Moving:

Yonatan Razel sings with family of fallen soldier

The family of Yossi Hershkowitz, a school principal who fell in battle in Gaza, sings Yossi's last song in New York together with renowned singer Yonatan Razel. Watch.

Alexander, Danila, Yahav, and Eliav fell in battle in Gaza

Three soldiers from the 931st Battalion of the Nahal Brigade, and one soldier from the 79th Battalion of 14th 'Machatz' Brigade, fell in battle in Gaza.

Beit Hanoun tragedy:

Terrorists used standard IDF explosives

Sources in the IDF say the explosives used by terrorists as a landmine to kill three soldiers are those used by the IDF to demolish tunnels.

Three soldiers fell in battle in the northern Gaza Strip

Staff Sergeant Matityahu Ya’akov Perel, Staff Sergeant Kanaoo Kasa, and Staff Sergeant Nevo Fisher fell in battle in the northern Gaza Strip.

Hundreds of flags

Thousands accompany fallen soldier Ido on his last journey

Staff Sergeant Ido Samiach, 20, fell Tuesday in battle in northern Gaza, and was buried in the Savyon cemetery.

Cleared for publication:

Staff Sergeant Ido from Ganei Tikva fell in battle in Gaza

Staff Sergeant Ido Samiach served as a squad sergeant in the Reconnaissance Battalion of the Nahal Brigade.

Cleared for publication:

Major Dvir Zion Revah fell in battle in northern Gaza

Revah, 28 from Jerusalem, served as a Company Commander in the 932 Battalion, Nahal Brigade.

Cleared for publication:

Captain Eitan Israel Shiknazi and another soldier fell in battle

Captain Eitan Israel Shiknazi, 24, is survived by his wife and is the tenth soldier from Eli to fall since the start of the war. Another soldier, whose name has not yet been cleared for publication, fell in the same incident.

Chief Rabbi eulogizes:

'Fallen soldier is at the highest level in heaven'

Sephardic Chief Rabbi David Yosef speaks at funeral of Sergeant Uriel Peretz, a haredi soldier who was killed in battle in Gaza.

Cleared for publication:

Sgt. Uriel from Beitar Illit fell in battle in Gaza

Sergeant Uriel Peretz, aged 23, served in the haredi Netzah Yehuda Battalion. Three additional soldiers were severely injured in the incident.