Heavy grief descended on Givat Olam Farm when it became known that Capt. Or Yosef Ran, son of Avri Ran, one of the leaders of the settlement in Samaria, had fallen in battle with terrorists in the village of Gaza, where fighting is still raging Sunday morning. The family of ten brothers and sisters gathered at the farm, mourning the son who was killed, and the nephew who is still fighting near the Gaza Strip.
Terrorists near the Gaza Strip// Philip Leptunov
"Or began his career in the mobility unit and a few years ago moved to establish Duvdevan's mobility unit. He commanded the mobility unit until his last day," says Mika, his sister.
Over the past year and a half, due to the wave of terrorism in Judea and Samaria, Duvdevan fighters have operated intensively and endanger their lives. "They worked with extraordinary intensity all the time. It was scary, but we didn't have the privilege to deal with it. That's what we do, that's how we were raised, that's how we live."
When the terrorists' invasion of the Gaza envelope began yesterday morning, the Duvdevan fighters were among the first on the ground. Or arrived with his fighters in the village of Gaza and began fighting against the enemy. "They arrived in the early hours of the morning, around eight o'clock, and fought all day, the first few hours almost alone."
Capt. Or Ran. Cherry officer who fell in combat, photo: courtesy of the family
At around one o'clock in the afternoon, Mika decided to send him a message, partly because her son is also a soldier in the unit. "Since my son is his subordinate and was with him all the time, I didn't hold back and sent him a message. He only wrote me 'normal.' That was moments before he was killed."
Shortly after the announcement was sent, the fighters encountered terrorists in the village of Gaza who fired an RPG missile at them. "They had to get out of the wolf vehicles because of the impact. As soon as they got down, they got bundles. My brother was killed instantly." Or's nephew, Mika's son, was the one who evacuated him. "My son evacuated him, Or was killed in his hands."
Sderot on the second day of fighting, photo: Neta Bar
An IDF soldier is evacuated to hospital for treatment, yesterday, Photo: Reuters
Palestinians with an Israeli tank near the separation fence, photo: AFP
Mika says she met her brother less than a week ago. "There was a family day in the mobility unit on Monday and we were all there." She says of her brother: "He was a light, like his name. Be the light of a lot of people, friends and girlfriends, family, I don't think there are many people who everyone loves and is happy with like that. With all the intensity of what he did, he did not forget his family and friends. He knew how to live. He loved the terrain, was a talented motorcyclist who knew every trail in the country."
Mika's son is still in the Gaza envelope, fighting terrorists. "He hasn't come out yet. The event is not over yet and they are still there. I hope he comes."
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