New Details Revealed: IDF Reservist Killed Resisting Hamas Abduction Attempt
New details emerge in the death of Master Sergeant (res.) Avraham Azoulay, a newlywed and Samaria pioneer, who was killed in close combat after Hamas terrorists emerged from a tunnel and attempted to abduct him.
Twitter
Master Sergeant (res.) Azoulay, a resident of Shaked Farm in the Yitzhar hills, was killed on Wednesday during an operation in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. Now it appears he fell while fighting off a Hamas cell that attempted to kidnap him.
Azoulay, an IDF D9 bulldozer operator, was part of an engineering unit working in the area when militants emerged from a tunnel and launched a surprise attack. He struggled with them before being fatally shot. A nearby security team responded quickly, killing several of the attackers and thwarting the kidnapping. Azoulay, who was married just three months ago, leaves behind a young wife, parents, and siblings. He was 31 years old.
Originally from Elazar, Azoulay moved to Yitzhar as a teenager and later became a contractor promoting Jewish labor in construction. He was one of dozens of Yitzhar residents who volunteered to assist the IDF during the Iron Swords War by operating heavy engineering equipment inside Gaza.
Azoulay’s military history is marked by a personal journey of redemption. Though once stripped of rank due to a period of desertion, resulting in imprisonment and demotion, he returned to active reserve duty with determination. Over the course of the war, he completed 201 reserve days. In recognition of his bravery and sacrifice, IDF Chief of Staff, with the approval of the Defense Minister and recommendation of Azoulay’s commanders, restored his rank and posthumously promoted him to Master Sergeant. Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, mourned Azoulay’s loss, calling him “a true pioneer, a builder of the hilltops, a hero who gave his life for his people and his land.”
“He came to Samaria as a teenager with a mission to build the land,” said Dagan. “Avraham was one of our very best, fearless and full of love for Israel. He is the 31st resident of our region to fall in this war.”
Israel Gantz, Chairman of the Yesha Council and head of the Binyamin Regional Council, also offered condolences to Azoulay’s widow, Ruth. “Avraham fought evil with heavy machinery and protected Israel with immense courage,” he wrote in a statement. “He fell doing what he believed in, with a pure heart and a steadfast spirit.”