4 Soldiers Hy’d, Killed in Gaza

The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit announced Thursday evening that four soldiers Hy’d were killed when their Hummer struck an explosive device in the Rafah area of Gaza.

The fallen were identified as Major Omri Chai Ben Moshe Hy’d, 26, from Tzafria; Lieutenant Ron Arieli Hy’d, 20, from Hadera; Lieutenant Eitan Avner Ben-Yitzchak Hy’d, 22, from Har Bracha; and Lieutenant Eran Shelem Hy’d, 23, from Ramat Yohanan.

A cadet from the Dekel Battalion at the Officers’ Training School was critically wounded in the same incident, and two additional cadets were injured.

The severely wounded cadet was evacuated to a hospital for treatment, and his family was notified.

Eitan had become married three months ago to Atarah Steinbach, a native of Har Bracha.

Shomron Governor Yossi Dagan, a relative, mourned Eitan: “They established their home in Har Bracha. At their wedding, they held a special memorial for their fallen friends. Our hearts break for the youth, for the family that should have flourished here in Shomron, but now will not.

“Dear Atara, daughter of a longstanding Har Bracha family, who grew up here and brought him to Shomron, now we must accompany him on his final journey. All of us, the council and the settlement, will support the Ben-Yitzchak and Steinbach families in every way possible during this difficult hour. We will strengthen each other and never break; we are here to build the land and prevail.”

The Har Bracha community also expressed its sorrow: “We share in the grief of Atara, a resident who got married only about three months ago. We stand with Atara and the Steinbach family, a longstanding and rooted family in the community, who raise their eight children with dedication in the heart of Shomron.”

Omri Chai left behind a widow and two children – a one and a half year old baby girl and a baby who is only one and a half months old.

Photos of the attacked vehicle were shared with Belaaz: