The names of two reserve soldiers who were killed yesterday (Sunday) in a building explosion in the central Gaza Strip have been released:
Sergeant Major (Res.) Ido Aviv, 28 years old, from Karmiel, a fighter in the Armored Support Battalion, 9232nd Infantry Regiment, Yiftach Formation (679), fell in battle in the central Gaza Strip.
Sergeant Major (Res.) Chalcedon from the mountains of the Fourteenth, 37 years old, from Petah Tikva, a fighter in Battalion 223, Carmeli Brigade (2), fell in battle in the central Gaza Strip.
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Additionally, in the battle in which Sergeant Ido Aviv and Sergeant Kalkidan Mehari fell, a soldier (res.) from Battalion 223, Carmeli Brigade (2) was seriously wounded.
The fighter was taken to the hospital by helicopter and his family was notified.
Aviv and Kalkidan were killed in an incident yesterday afternoon, when a force from the Carmeli Reserve Brigade was injured during an exchange of fire with terrorists on the IDF's humanitarian axis between the north and south of the Gaza Strip. The fighters entered operational activity in Gaza four days ago.
As mentioned, another fighter was injured in the incident and was evacuated to a hospital in serious condition by helicopter - but his condition is now described as moderate.
The IDF is investigating the circumstances of the incident: it is possible that the force was hit by anti-tank gunfire from terrorists, but the IDF is also examining other possibilities.
Kalkidan's mother, who still lives in Ethiopia, received the difficult news from the country's representative there.
Tal Zerbiv Manor, Kalkidan's niece, paid tribute to him: "Kalkidan, my uncle, my mother's little brother, fell in battle in Gaza. They are right when they say that it is always the best. The high-quality, Zionist, optimistic, lovers of people and the country. Our finest was taken from us. The one who immigrated to Israel alone at the age of 18, left his beloved mother in Ethiopia and set out with determination to fulfill a dream.
""He learned Hebrew from scratch. He took great pride in putting on his uniform and serving the country. He planned step by step, with genuine and contagious excitement, his life here - as an Israeli. The driving course - that would be a livelihood, photography - the talent he inherited from his grandfather, canoeing - the company he loved and with whom he planned to marry and start a family. He always knew how to keep in touch with his distant mother Almaz. To visit, send money, call and ask how she was doing.
""The cry that came out of her when she was told at her home in Addis Ababa about the death of her warrior son - we heard it all the way to Jerusalem, and our hearts trembled. Kalkidan. You left us behind, and we are without you. A family of broken hearts, in Ethiopia and in Israel. We love you and are proud of you and refuse to say goodbye. We will never be the same family again without you.".
Petah Tikva Mayor Rami Greenberg wrote about him: "With great sadness, we learned of the fall of the hero, a native of the city, the late Major (res.) Kalkidan Mehari. Kalkidan served as a soldier in the 223rd Battalion, Carmeli Brigade, and fell in the battles in the Gaza Strip, aged 37 when he fell. We share the family's deep sorrow and our hearts go out to them. The Petah Tikva Municipality will assist in whatever way is necessary, and will commemorate its loved ones who fell in defense of the homeland. May his memory be blessed.".
Ido Aviv, the eldest son of my mother and Mark, and brother of Niv, 23, and Shaked, 18. The family lives in Karmiel. Ido and his partner of the past six years, Dasha Liushkevich, lived in a rented apartment in Kiryat Bialik.
Ido was a member of the Surf Cycle surfing club in Kiryat Yam, and guided hundreds of the city's students as part of the Marine Leadership Program, where they wrote about him: "With great sadness and dark grief, we are shocked and saddened by the untimely fall of our Ido Aviv. Ido is a dear friend and a pillar of our club. We still can't digest it and the pain is immense.".
David Even Tzur, Mayor of Kiryat Yam, paid tribute to Ido Aviv: "Ido the surfer, Ido the smiling one, Ido the revered guide - was killed in Gaza. Ido guided hundreds of the city's children and was a well-known figure among surfers. I share the grief of the members of the club, which is like a family, and hug Ido Aviv's friends and family.".
Since the beginning of the war, 608 soldiers have fallen - 263 of them since the beginning of the ground maneuvers in the Gaza Strip.
Since the beginning of the war, 3,310 soldiers have been injured, including 513 seriously. Currently, 25 are hospitalized in serious condition, 166 in moderate condition, and 53 in mild condition.
