IDF soldiers Yair Avitan, Yakir Tatelbaum fall in battle in Gaza

During battle, Avitan was hit by close-range gunfire in Shejaia, and Tatelbaum was killed by sniper fire in northern Gaza.

 IDF soldiers Staff sergeant Yair Avitan (left) and Sergeant first class (res.) Yakir Shmuel Tatelbaum (right) (photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)
IDF soldiers Staff sergeant Yair Avitan (left) and Sergeant first class (res.) Yakir Shmuel Tatelbaum (right)
(photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

Staff-Sergeant Yair Avitan and Sergeant-Major (Res.) Yakir Shmuel Tatelbaum were killed in battle while fighting in the Gaza Strip on Friday, the IDF announced Saturday evening.

Avitan, 20, from Ra'anana, served in the 890th Battalion in the Paratroopers' Brigade.

The staff-sergeant fell in battle in Shejaia.

Tatelbaum, 21, from Ma'ale Adumim, served in the 77th Battalion of the 7th Brigade.

Tatelbaum was killed in combat in northern Gaza. 

  IDF troops operate in the Gaza Strip. June 26, 2024. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)
IDF troops operate in the Gaza Strip. June 26, 2024. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

Both of their families have been notified. 

Paying tribute

Avitan's father paid tribute to him on Facebook.

"A heavy disaster has befallen our family. Beloved Yair fell in battle yesterday and died a hero's death. Our hearts are broken," Avitan's father wrote.

During the fighting on Friday, several incidents occurred between IDF soldiers and Hamas terrorists, Maariv reported.

In the first incident, a paratrooper unit encountered terrorists inside a building. During the battle, Avitan was hit by close-range gunfire. A military doctor who accompanied the unit eventually pronounced him dead.


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Simultaneously, in another incident in northern Gaza, Tatelbaum was killed by sniper fire.

Communities mourn the deaths

The mayor of Ra'anana, Chaim Broyde, mourned the death of Avitan, a resident of the city.

"Our hearts break upon learning of the fall in battle of Staff-Sergeant Yair Avitan, of blessed memory, a son of our city, a salt of the earth, who sacrificed his life in defense of the nation's security. The Ra'anana community shares in the grief of the Avitan family and is embracing and supporting them in their difficult time," Broyde stated.

Avitan graduated from Ariel School, Mitrim, and the Amit Science and Technology High School in Kfar Bituach, Ra'anana. He left behind his parents, Einat and Maimon, and three younger siblings. 

Daniel Barry, principal of Amit Eitan High School in Ma'ale Adumim, where Tatelbaum studied, said that the entire Amit Eitan community mourns his death, Walla reported.

"Yakir chose to study in a pre-military training school in order to prepare himself for significant service as a soldier, to contribute and protect the country," Barry said of his former student. "Unfortunately, he fell on duty. We wish to embrace his family and his many friends in their terrible tragedy."

Eitan Tzarum, Tatelbaum's former teacher, said that emphasized the gravity of the loss.

"He was an outstanding student who loved to study and deepen, a boy who did not make any concessions to himself," Tzarumsaid. "The loss is great, and the heartbreak is unfathomable."