In a somber development, Sgt. Agam Naim, a 20-year-old paramedic from Kibbutz Mishmarot, became the first female soldier to fall in combat in Gaza during Israel's ongoing Swords of Iron War. Naim, a paramedic in the 52nd Battalion of the Iron Tracks Brigade (401), died in a building explosion in Gaza alongside three IDF soldiers. She is survived by her parents and two sisters.
🇮🇱🕯️Staff Sgt. Dotan Shimon (21) from Elazar, 🕯️Staff Sgt. Agam Naim (20) from Mishmarot, 🕯️Staff Sgt. Amit Bakri (21) from Yoshivia, and 🕯️Cpt. Daniel Mimon Toaff (23) from Moreshet were killed in action in Gaza yesterday.
▸Sgt. Bakari is the first female soldier to be killed… pic.twitter.com/hKrMMWzjR5— Jewish News Syndicate (@JNS_org) September 18, 2024
Dorit, Agam's mother, recently shared her concerns about her daughter's service: "Agam was summoned for the paramedics course. We were overjoyed – maybe she'd become a doctor someday. Isn't that worth it? She graduated with honors and was assigned to the Armored Corps. Two days after finishing the course, she was already in Gaza with the Engineering Corps. We stopped breathing, stopped sleeping. Life changed; I suddenly experienced panic attacks that came without warning."
Dorit continued, "At home, it was manageable, but one day it happened at the kindergarten. Agam called to say she was going in. I wasn't prepared; she wasn't supposed to deploy for a few more days. It was a sharp pain, like a knife twisting in my heart, stomach, throughout my entire body."
"We choose to live in hope. May all our soldiers return safely, may the hostages come back soon – but very soon, may my own child return home, healthy in body and spirit. May the war end, and we return to normalcy. Amen. My Agami, I'm proud of you, child. I'm waiting for you, my love," Dorit concluded.
Yarin, Agam's sister, wrote in her eulogy: "My Agami, the most beautiful girl in kindergarten – the purest, smartest, most cheerful, most sociable, bravest, most excellent. The simplest of all. Before I left, we talked, and you promised to take care of yourself. But each time, you reminded us that if not you, there would be no one to do your job. No one to protect the soldiers and treat them. My hero, a true hero."
Yarin added, "You were the little sister in the family but always acted as if you were a decade ahead of everyone. We always laughed about how they mixed up our ages, and you were actually older than me. You had such an aura that everyone in the room would smile when you entered. Your smile was contagious. You were 20, and in three days, you were supposed to turn 21. And you'll always remain 20."
Mariel, Agam Naim's aunt, recounted with anguish: "Agam was a paramedic, assigned to an armored battalion after finishing her course. She graduated with honors, so they placed her at the forefront. For the past six months, she was in Gaza, sometimes with the Engineering Corps, sometimes with the Givati Brigade. The parents worried, of course – how could they not? Her father is a bereaved brother, so he worried twice as much. There were many concerns. She's a daughter, she's a child, she didn't have to go, but she really wanted to enter Gaza. She's the youngest – the youngest of three."
"She was the most beautiful, the happiest, the most talented. She volunteered with Magen David Adom, did a year of service, and worked with post-hospitalization youth. They took the most exceptional one," Mariel continued.
"The truth is, she wasn't supposed to return to Gaza. She was accepted to instruct in the paramedics course and was set to begin. Last weekend, she was home sick. The commander told her she didn't have to return and could stay home before starting her instruction role. She said she didn't want to leave without saying goodbye to her comrades. So she went in for just three more days. She entered on Monday."
The Paramedics Organization also paid tribute: "The Paramedics Organization mourns the fall in battle of Agam Naim, 20, from Mishmarot, a combat paramedic in the 52nd Battalion of the Armored Corps. Agam, one of the pioneers serving as a paramedic in a combat role, stood at the front lines of the battles in the Gaza Strip in a position requiring a unique combination of courage, dedication, and boundless professionalism. Agam was there to fight for the lives of her unit comrades, carrying an enormous responsibility to treat and save lives in the most challenging field conditions. Even today, almost a year into the war, we must remember that it is only thanks to our finest daughters and sons, fighters like Agam, who gave their lives, that the citizens of Israel sit safely in their land. May her soul be bound in the bond of life. May her memory be a blessing."
Mali Kaplan, principal of the Mevo'ot Iron educational institution where Agam studied, eulogized her: "Agam, a graduate of Mevo'ot Iron, excelled in every field she touched. She was an outstanding student, studied biology and computer science, and even completed a final project in social sciences. Agam was active in the boarding school and youth society of Mevo'ot Iron and was also a member and counselor in the Hashomer Hatzair youth movement."
Kaplan added, "Upon completing her studies, Agam received a social excellence certificate for her role as a counselor in Hashomer Hatzair. After graduation, Agam chose to do a year of service at 'Pnimiyat Adanim' in Beit Kama, working with youth discharged from hospitals. She aspired to be a paramedic and served in the 52nd Battalion, Iron Tracks Brigade, out of a desire to contribute as much as possible to society. Agam was always surrounded by friends, patient with everyone, and kind-hearted. We are in pain and mourning. This is a tremendous loss for the staff, students, and alumni of Mevo'ot Iron. We embrace and share in the sorrow of her parents, Dorit and Dudi, her sisters, and the entire family."
