Hundreds of soldiers and senior officers from the IDF Artillery Corps accompanied Staff Sgt. Gal Kaidan, who was killed in a terrorist stabbing-shooting attack near Ariel on Sunday, on his final journey as he was laid to rest in the military cemetery in Beersheba on Monday.
Eight soldiers from Kaidan's unit served as his pallbearers. After the coffin was lowered in the grave and covered with dirt, a military rabbi read a chapter of Psalms. Kaidan's brother Erez recited the Kaddish mourning prayer, and Kaidan's battalion commander, Lt. Col. Or Levi, eulogized him.
"On Sunday, you set out on your last mission. A week ago, we met and you told me how much you wanted to succeed and have an influence," Levi said.
"You had a strong will to achieve excellence and you did everything to reach that goal. I saw the glint in your eyes and I knew you'd succeed.
"Dear Kaidan family, we have no words of comfort for you. We, the Re'em Battalion, share in your deep grief, and I want us to be a source of comfort for you. Gal – we'll always remember you. Your spirit will be entwined in our lives," Levi said.
The funeral ended with a ceremonial gun salute, after which four of Kaidan's friends gave a musical performance in his memory, playing through their tears.
Meanwhile, Artillery Corps soldier Alex Dvorsky, 19, who was in very serious condition after being shot in the Ariel attack on Sunday, was reported to be improving on Monday morning. Rabin Medical Center reported that Dvorsky, who had been intubated and on a respirator, was fully conscious, breathing on his own and able to talk to the staff.
Dvorsky's condition was upgraded to moderate to serious.
Oleg Dvorsky, Alex's brother, said, "Sasha made aliyah in 2013 and from 9th to 12th grade was part of the Naale project [for] youth who make aliyah before their parents. After school on [Moshav] Nahalal, he enlisted in the Artillery Corps and was there for a year and eight months. He enjoyed his service and the team he served with."
Oleg said he appreciated the support his brother and the family were receiving.
"Everyone is supportive and helpful. Now he's in the doctors' hands. Support after this, when we'll need help, is also important," the concerned brother said.
Professor Pierre Singer, head of the intensive care unit at Rabin Medical Center's Beilinson Hospital, said Monday that Dvorsky had arrived at the hospital with a bullet in the right side of his body, which had penetrated internal organs.
"The surgery he underwent saved his life and the staff managed to stop the bleeding that could have killed him. We are providing him with intensive care to address the problems caused to the body after an event like this," Singer said.
"His family is strong and is at his side. It's impressive to see how all of Israel is with the wounded and their families," Singer added.
