Three Israeli soldiers were killed Sunday as a result of a rocket and mortar barrage on the Kerem Shalom crossing. The fallen: Staff Sergeant Ido Testa (19, Jerusalem), Staff Sergeant Ruben Marc Mordechai Assouline, (19, Ra'anana) and Staff Sergeant Tal Shavit (21, Kfar Giladi). These are their stories:
Ruben Marc Mordechai Assouline
Staff Sergeant Assouline, killed in Kerem Shalom, was 19 years old from Ra'anana, a soldier in the Shaked Battalion of the Givati Brigade. He left behind parents, a sister, and two brothers. His family immigrated to France about a decade ago. He will be buried tomorrow in the military cemetery on Klausner Street in the city. Dana, his cousin, said tearfully: "Ruben was a Zionist. He immigrated from France. He really wanted to serve in a combat role. He was an amazing kid, a good kid. He always wanted to create a good atmosphere, happy, and smiling. The whole family immigrated in 2014 from France out of Zionism. He always looked after his younger brother. They were similar. He was an amazing brother."
Mayor Chaim Broida, the Ra'anana mayor, said: "The Ra'anana community is broken and pained by the falling in battle of a son of the city, a graduate of the Ostrovski high school. In these difficult days, we all embrace the family of Ruben of blessed memory and feel their pain. May his memory be a blessing."
Ido Testa
Sergeant Ido Testa was 19 years old from Jerusalem, a soldier in the Shaked Battalion of the Givati Brigade. He lived in the Har Homa neighborhood. Sharon Martin, a volunteer for soldiers nicknamed the "Mother of the Shaked Battalion," eulogized him: "Our hearts are broken, with great sorrow and immense pain we mourn the falling of a beloved brother, friend, partner, a true gem. Ido Testa of blessed memory, a warrior, a hero, a battle fox. There are no words to express how present you are in the hearts of our children and us. How beloved you are. Little warrior of the Shaked Battalion, your brothers in arms are pained and salute you. Go in peace and rest on your bed."
At the Hebrew Gymnasium high school in Jerusalem, where Testa studied, they eulogized him: "The Hebrew Gymnasium community mourns the falling of Ido Testa of blessed memory, who was a soldier in the Givati Brigade and fell in Kerem Shalom. We share in the heavy mourning of the family. Ido was a graduate of Class 102. May his memory be a blessing."
Tal Shavit
First Sergeant Tal Shavit Tal Shavit, killed in Kerem Shalom, was 21 years old from Kfar Gileadi, a soldier in Battalion 931 of the Nachal Brigade. The mourning notice in the kibbutz read: "The heart is broken. The members of Kibbutz Kfar Giladi announce with great sorrow the falling of Tal Shavit, a soldier of Battalion 931 in the Nachal Brigade, during operational activity in Kerem Shalom on the Gaza border. Tal, son of Ayelet and Ran Shavit, brother of Ofri and Rotem, and grandson of Uri and Neta Mar-Haim. How proud they were of him. How they worried for him during his seven months of fighting in Gaza. The heart is broken. May his memory be a blessing."
Liron Lustig, a family friend, eulogized him: "Tal was an amazing kid, he was sociable, active in the youth movement, and mentored children in the kibbutz who really loved him and connected with him. A wise and warm-hearted kid. Always with a smile on his face. His father Ran was so proud of him. He fought in Gaza for five months."
