Reserve soldier Master Sergeant (res.) Abraham Azulay fell on Wednesday evening in Gaza while preventing his own kidnapping, becoming the third casualty from Yitzhar settlement in the war just months after his wedding.
Azulay left behind his wife Ruth, parents and siblings. The reserve soldier, an engineering equipment operator in the Southern Command Engineering Unit, fell in battle in southern Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, after fighting terrorists who attempted to kidnap him. Security forces in the area opened fire on the terrorists, hit several of them and thwarted the kidnapping. He is the 31st casualty from Samaria Regional Council in the war.
Abraham grew up in Elazar settlement, arrived at Yitzhar settlement as a teenager, established a Hebrew labor company, married and built his home at Shaked Farm in the Yitzhar Hills. He was among dozens of Yitzhar residents who came to assist the IDF in the Gaza Strip operating heavy mechanical engineering equipment.
Abraham is the third fallen soldier from Yitzhar settlement in the Iron Swords War. About a year and a half ago, soldier Staff Sergeant Yehonatan Lober fell in battle in southern Gaza Strip, and about 8 months ago, soldier Sergeant Shneur Zalman Cohen fell in northern Gaza Strip.
"He was among our finest sons"
Samaria Regional Council Head Yossi Dagan eulogized him, saying, "Abraham, may his memory be blessed, was a hero, a true pioneer, a builder of hills and farms, worked in preparation and development of farms and road paving in Samaria, devoted entirely to settling the Land of Israel and defending the Land of Israel, came to Samaria as a teenager to build Samaria and was among our finest sons who build the hills with courage and love."
"Abraham is the 31st fallen soldier in the Iron Swords War in the council, gave his life for the people and the land, while doing what he loved and believed in – building the land. The Samaria Regional Council family will accompany beloved Ruth, with everything she needs from the settlement family in Samaria and the entire Yitzhar community mourns and embraces the Azulay families."
Gilad Ach, company commander, eulogized him, saying, "Abraham Azulay served as a sniper in the company I commanded in the first months of the war, a strong young man who always strived to be at the heart of action, always with ideas for improvement. With the beginning of the attack on Lebanon and the destruction of enemy villages adjacent to the fence in October 2024, he offered himself and his capabilities to remove the murderous threat of Hezbollah from northern communities. He could not bear the fact that he was not drafted. Values-driven, strong, with countless abilities, connected to the land – thus he lived and thus he fell on his watch. Your friends and commanders from the 7106th Support Company love you."
