The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) took to publicizing the names of 26 brave soldiers who lost their lives in a recent clash with Hamas militants along the Gaza Strip border on Sunday.
Concurrently, the Israel Police solemnly released a list acknowledging the sacrifice of 30 officers who met their end while confronting these terrorists.
Tragically, the violence escalated on Saturday, resulting in the loss of at least 300 lives. Gaza-based Hamas militants initiated a brutal offensive, infiltrating towns, wreaking havoc within military installations, ruthlessly targeting travelers on roads and within their homes, and unleashing a barrage of thousands of rockets upon a wide expanse of Israel, an alarming and devastating assault. Furthermore, these terrorists took numerous soldiers and civilians hostage, relocating them into Gaza.
Official sources are still grappling with the uncertainty surrounding the precise count of soldiers who perished and those currently held captive within Gaza.
The IDF dead include:
Col. Jonathan Steinberg, 42, the commander of the Nahal Brigade.
Steinberg was killed Saturday morning during clashes with Hamas terrorists in the Kerem Shalom area near the border with the Gaza Strip, the military said.
Steinberg, from the southern town of Shomria, was en route to the site of clashes being managed by his subordinates when he was killed by a terrorist in an encounter.
IDF Lt. Col. Sahar Machluf, 36, the commander of the 481st Signal Battalion, from Modiin. (IDF)
Col. Roi Levy, 44, the commander of the Multidomain Unit, also known as the “Ghost” Unit, from Shavei Tzion
Levy was killed as his forces battled Hamas terrorists in the southern community of Re’im.
The IDF said he “led his team bravely, engaged [the terrorists], and was first into the battle in Kibbutz Re’im, in order to save citizens who were besieged in their homes.
Some 10 Palestinian terrorists were killed in the exchange, the IDF said.
He, along with Steinberg, is one of the most senior Israeli officers to have been killed in combat in recent memory.
Lt. Col. Sahar Machluf, 36, the commander of the 481st Signal Battalion, from Modiin.
Maj. Chen Buchris, 26, the deputy commander of Maglan, from Ashdod.
Cpt. Adir Ovadi, 23, a commander in the Home Front Command, from Modiin.
Cpt. Yotam Ben Bassat, 24, a commander in the Multidomain Unit, from Bat Hefer.
Lt. Or Moses, 22, a commander in the Home Front Command, from Ashdod.
Lt. Yiftah Yaabetz, 23, a commander in Maglan, from Ramat Hasharon.
Lt. Menashe Yoav Maliev, 19, an officer in the 7th Armored Brigade, from Kiryat Ono.
Lt. Or Yosef Ran, 29, a commander in Duvdevan, from Itamar.
Lt. (res.) Ido Edri, 24, an infantry officer, from Givaton.
2nd Lt. Adar Ben Simon, 20, a commander in the Home Front Command, from Neve Ziv.
2nd Lt. Yanai Kaminka, 20, a commander in the Home Front Command, from Tzur Hadassah.
Sgt. First Class Amir Fisher, 22, a Duvdevan soldier, from Tel Aviv.
Staff Sgt. Ofir Tzioni, 21, a commander in the Home Front Command, from Yokne’am Illit.
Lt. Or Yosef Ran, 29, a commander in the Duvdevan unit who was killed in the fighting in southern Israel on October 7, 2023 (Courtesy)
Lt. Or Yosef Ran, 29, a commander in the Duvdevan unit who was killed in the fighting in southern Israel on October 7, 2023 (Courtesy)
Staff Sgt. Omri Niv Feirstein, 20, a Home Front Command soldier, from Givatayim.
Staff Sgt. Yuval Ben Yaakov, 21, a soldier in the 7th Armored Brigade, from Kfar Menahem.
Staff Sgt. Ido Harush, a soldier in the 7th Armored Brigade, from Mitspe Ramon.
Sgt. Or Asto, 21, a logistics NCO in Golani, from Beersheba.
Sgt. Ofek Rosental, 20, a Maglan soldier, from Kfar Menahem.
Sgt. Eden Alon Levi, 19, a commander in the Home Front Command, from Nirit.
Cpl. Dvir Lisha, 21, a Golani soldier, from Nitzan.
Cpl. Guy Bazak, 19, a Golani soldier, from Givatayim.
Cpl. Netanel Yang, 20, a Golani soldier from Tel Aviv.
Cpl. Adi Gurman, 19, a Unit 414 soldier.
Pvt. Neria Aharon Nagiri, 18, a Home Front Command soldier, from Talmon.
Pvt. Naama Buni, 19, a soldier in the 7th Armored Brigade.
Lt. Col. Yonatan Tzur, 33, the commander of the Nahal Reconnaissance Battalion, from Kedumim
Maj. Avraham Hovlashvili , 26, an officer in Carcal, from Ashdod
Maj. Ido Yehoshua, 27, an Israeli Air Force instructor
Maj. (res.) Omri Michaeli, 35, a Duvdevan soldier, from Nes Tziona
Cpt. Arye Shlomo Tsering, 27, an Oketz officer, from Raanana
Lt. Shoham Tomer, 23, a Nahal officer, from Srigim
Lt. Itay Maor, 23, a Golani officer, from Rosh Haayin
Lt. Rom Shlomi, 23, a Shalgad officer, from Ganot
Sgt. First Class Vitaly Shipkevich, 21, an Egoz soldier, from Ariel
Staff Sgt. Ilay Gamzu, 20, a Paratrooper, from Ashdod
Staff Sgt. Ohad Cohen, 20, a Shaldag soldier, from Idan
Sgt. Itay-El Marciano, 20, a Paratrooper, from Shoham
Cpl. Itamar Ayish, 19, a Home Front Command soldier, from Kiryat Gat
Cpl. Ori Looker, 19, a Golani soldier, from Pardes Hana-Karkur
Cpl. Yaron Zahar, 19, a Golani soldier, from Kiryat Ata
Pvt. Ofir Davidian, 18, a logistics soldier in the Home Front Command, from Patish
Cpt. Tal Grushka, 25, a Nahal officer, from Kfar Saba
The names and ranks of 32 Israel Police officers who died in combat yesterday were also released.
In a statement, the force said officers and soldiers “stood fiercely at the front of the battle against the enemy.”
They are:
Chief Superintendent Ge-ar Davidov, commander of the Rahat station
Chief Superintendent Yitzhak Bazuka Shvili, commander of the Segev Shalom station
Superintendent Vadim Blich, a commander in the coordination of enforcement operations unit
Superindentent Martin Kozmichekis, commander in the coordination of enforcement operations unit
Superintendent Shlomo Moshe El, officer in the Yamam counter-terror unit
Superintendent Nisim Lugasi, deputy commander of a Magav unit
Superintendent Amin Ohonadov, squad commander in the Yoav unit
Chief Inspector Stas Shainkman, a member of the Yamam counter-terror unit
Inspector Andrei Poshivi, town station patrol officer
Inspector Alexei Shamkov, officer in the Yamam counter-terror unit
Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Meir Abragil, Sderot station investigation coordinator
Sergeant Major Chen Nahmias, sniper in the Yamam counter-terror unit
Staff Sergeant Elina Astafniko, town patrol Ofakim, southern region, killed in action on October 7, 2023 (Israel Police)
Staff Sergeant Elina Astafniko, town patrol Ofakim, southern region, killed in action on October 7, 2023 (Israel Police)
Advanced Staff Sergeant Alec Pozniakov, detective Magen unit, southern region, killed in action on October 7, 2023 (Israel Police)
Advanced Staff Sergeant Alec Pozniakov, detective Magen unit, southern region, killed in action on October 7, 2023 (Israel Police)
Sergeant Major Roman Gendel, instructor in the Lotar counter-terror unit
Sergeant Major Yehuda Kedar, non-commisioned officer Border Police officer at the Eshkol Ein Habsor station
Advanced Staff Sergeant Alon Barad, investigator in Rahat station, southern region, killed in action on October 7, 2023 (Israel Police)
Advanced Staff Sergeant Alon Barad, investigator in Rahat station, southern region, killed in action on October 7, 2023 (Israel Police)
Deputy superintendent Yitzhak Bazooka Shvili, commander Regev Shalom station, southern region, killed in action on October 7, 2023 (Israel Police)
Deputy superintendent Yitzhak Bazooka Shvili, commander Regev Shalom station, southern region, killed in action on October 7, 2023 (Israel Police)
First Sergeant Melik Karim, investigator at the Beersheba station
First Sergeant Yoram Eliyahu Cohen, fighter in the Yamam counter-terror unit
First Sergeant Dvora Avraham, a patrolwoman at the Ofakim station
Staff Sergeant Major Dror Elton, sapper in the Yamam counter-terror unit
Staff Sergeant Yaakov Shlomo Karsninski, fighter in the undercover police unit
Sgt. First Class Avi Buzaglo, detective at the Rahat station
Sgt. First Class Michael Lizmi, detective at the Beersheba station
Sgt. First Class Shai El Knafo, town patrol in police’s Southern District
Staff Sergeant Elina Astafniko, town patrol at the Ofakim station
Corporal Ravit Hana Assiyag, Border Police officer in police’s Southern District
The Shin Bet also named five members and retirees killed during the Hamas attack.
Yossi Tahar, 39, Maor Shalom 46, and Amir Wax, 48, were killed when Hamas terrorists attacked southern towns; and Ili Nahman, 23, and Ido Edri, 24, were killed when terrorists attacked an outdoor rave near Re’im.
Beyond the brave soldiers and dedicated police officers, innocent civilians, including young rave-goers fleeing through fields of golden grass, residents of kibbutzim and towns besieged by Hamas militants, a local politician who perished while defending homes, an emergency responder and firefighters, elderly Israelis waiting at a bus stop, and workers or vacationers traveling on typically tranquil roads—tragically, even young children caught in the devastation of rocket strikes.
As the gunfights raged into the early hours of Sunday morning, only a scant few names of the deceased had been made public.
