IDF Names 6 Soldiers Who Fell In Gaza Battles

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — BDE: On Wednesday morning, the IDF cleared for publication the names of three fallen soldiers whose families have been notified:

Lieutenant Yaron Eliezer Chitiz, 23, from Ra’anana, who fell in battle in the northern Gaza Strip.

Staff sergeant Itay Buton, 20, from Petah Tikva, who fell in battle in the northern Gaza Strip.

Staff sergeant Efraim Yachman, 21, from Neve Daniel, who fell in battle in the northern Gaza Strip.

On Tuesday evening, the IDF named three other soldiers who fell in battle in the Gaza Strip, bringing the total to six over the course of the day.

From left: Maor Lavi, Shaul Greenglick, Shay Shamriz HyD

First Sergeant Maor Lavi (33), from Susya, fell in battle in Gaza. Lavi, the husband of Inbar, was a father of four young girls and a dedicated volunteer for United Hatzalah. He is the third member of the tiny Southern Hevron hills community to fall in battle in the Swords of Steel campaign.

Maor found a menorah in a house in Sejaiya, Gaza and surmised that it had been stolen from a kibbutz. [He actually lit some Chanukah candles with the menorah in Gaza).  A day before his passing, he spoke on Israel radio, asking if the menorah could be identified and returned to its rightful owners.

Major Shay Shamriz (26), from Merkaz Shapira, commander of a company in Regiment 931, Nachal Brigade, fell in battle in the northern Gaza Strip. Shamriz was a relative of Alon Shamriz, one of the three captives who were accidentally shot to death as they were trying to escape from Hamas captivity.

Shamriz gave a speech to his soldiers before entering Gaza which was widely published.

“In every generation there were people who stood up and said: Here I am. They said: We are the shield of this nation, we have the merit to fight at times of crisis, testing times.

“These moments are harsh for the people of Israel, very harsh. This group standing here is the shield of the people of Israel and whoever dared to harm our state, our nation, will pay for it big time. Anyone who dares to lift his head will regret it.

Captain (res.) Shaul Greenglick, 26, from Ra’anana, commander in Regiment 931, Nachal Brigade, fell in battle in the northern Gaza Strip.

Shamriz and Greenglick fell in battle against terrorists in Daraj Tuffah, the last Hamas stronghold where the IDF has been maneuvering in the northern Gaza Strip. Lavi was killed on the outskirts of el-Bureij.

Several soldiers and officers were severely injured in battles Tuesday. All were evacuated to hospitals for medical treatment and their families were notified.

On Tuesday morning, the IDF announced the falling of Sergeant First Class Yosef Gitarz. Gitarz left his parents a letter in which he wrote: “I have lived a good and interesting life. Even so, I have never been afraid of death. I have made this choice and gone all the way with it. I have fallen with honor for my people. I have no regrets.”

Gitarz ended, “I love you very much and am proud that you are my parents. You have given me so much. You are definitely suffering terribly now, but you will get over this. This is the main thing that I wanted. You have many people who are close to you, and they will support you. Please find something positive in all of this. Spend time with your grandchildren. Help the State of Israel. I am okay.”