Shortly before the onset of Sabbath, the Israeli military allowed the release of the names and photographs of four soldiers from the Nahal Brigade's 931st Battalion who were killed by an IED in the northern Gaza Strip – Staff Sergeant Sergeant Itay Livny, 19, from Ramat Hasharon; Sergeant Yosef Dassa, 19, from Beersheba; Sergeant Ermiyas Mekuriyaw, 19, from Kiryat Bialik; and Sergeant Daniel Levy, 19, from Kiryat Motzkin. In addition, an officer and a soldier from the same battalion were severely injured in the incident.
Staff Sergeant Sergeant Itay Livny
Sergeant Sergeant Itay Livny left behind his parents, Amir and Naomi, a twin brother, Yoav, and an older sister, Keren. Upon learning of his death, the Ramat Hasharon Municipality stated, "The city of Ramat Hasharon bows its head in mourning over the falling of Itay Livny, an IDF soldier killed in combat in the northern Gaza Strip. Itay was a charming boy, a graduate of Alon High School's biology program. He was an outstanding student, an excellent athlete, and loved basketball dearly." Andy Kliski, the principal of Alon High School, eulogized Livny, "Itai was a well-mannered and sensitive young man with an original and profound mind. He had a shy yet captivating smile. He was a good friend, beloved by his classmates and teachers. His loss is immense for the school, the city, and the State of Israel." The Ramat Hasharon Sports Association also expressed its condolences over his death, as he played basketball and soccer in their youth divisions.
Sergeant Ermiyas Mekuriyaw
In Beersheba, tributes poured in for Sergeant Ermiyas Mekuriyaw, who fell in the northern Gaza Strip. The religious high school Amit wished to share in the family's grief. Additionally, Ermiyas' homeroom teacher wrote, "He was a kind-hearted boy with good eyes. A good friend, loving and beloved by all. Ermiyas had great humility, and manners, and his loss is grievous and incomprehensible."
Zuriel Rubins, the school principal, added, "Ermiyas had just finished his studies at our school last year. The vast majority of students knew him and were stunned by the pain. He was a sweet young man who made the extraordinary decision to serve as a combat soldier and defend the country. Our hearts go out to his family in their profound mourning. On the eve of the Sabbath, we will hold a gathering for students and teachers where we can grieve together and support one another."
Sergeant Daniel Levy
Sigal, the mother of Sergeant Daniel Levy, told Israel Hayom, "He's just a kid. He enlisted in August and desperately wanted to be a fighter, doing everything he could to get into Nachal. He fell in the Zeitoun neighborhood after they had been in Jabaliya. They haven't told us everything that happened yet. We're waiting for the commanders. He told us last Sunday night that he was going in, and I begged him not to. I said, 'As far as I'm concerned, you can spend half a year in jail, just don't go in.' He believed everything would be fine, and that was our last conversation."
About her son, she added, "He was a sociable kid who loved Hapoel Tel Aviv Soccer Club. He even had a tattoo of their emblem on his leg and went to every game. He adored the soccer player Mavis Tchibota – they met last week and took a photo together. He even brought him tickets to their last game two weeks ago." Regarding his close friendship with Dassa, Daniel's mother elaborated, "They've been in the same class since first grade – the closest of friends. Yosef knew secrets about him that I didn't know because of how close they were. When Yossef went into Gaza to fight three weeks ago and Daniel didn't, he feared something might happen to him. They were so close that Yossef refused to enlist in any other brigade, just so they could be together in Nahal. They were in the same room, the same operations. Daniel remained a fighter because of Yossi, who encouraged him tremendously, and they went together."
The Hapoel Tel Aviv Soccer Club bowed their heads and paid respects to Levy who also fell in the explosive incident in northern Gaza. Levy was an ardent fan of the club and made every effort to attend all their games alongside his service as a combat soldier.
Sergeant Yosef Dassa
Dassa's uncle commented after receiving the tragic news, "He was a truly special kid, the firstborn. I suggested he not go into a combat role, and his mother also passed away in Ethiopia. I told him not to go, that he didn't have to. 'I want to contribute to my country,' he said, 'I have to go into combat and enlist.' I spoke to him a month ago and texted him every opportunity. Yosef replied that he wasn't comfortable speaking to me through texts and promised to talk to his family when he returned." They added, "Enlisting in the Nachal Brigade was Yossef's dream. He loved the unit and the service immensely."
Dassa attended Ort Motzkin High School and was in the same homeroom class as Levy, who also fell. Yifat Tuyiti, their homeroom teacher, said in anguish, "One student, and then an hour later, the devastating news about the other student, knowing they were soul mates. They grew up together. At first, we heard the terrible news about Daniel, and barely an hour later, they gathered us and said – Yosef is gone too." She continued, "Daniel and Yosef managed to visit the school in uniform. We received one last hug from them after Passover, shortly before they entered the Gaza Strip."
