Matan Abergel, a 19-year-old soldier from the community of Hermesh, was buried a few hours ago on Friday after falling in battle when he jumped on a grenade to save his comrades. His mother tearfully eulogized him: "You were an amazing boy with great humor, who strove to go as far as possible." His friends thanked him: "You acted like a real hero."
Matan was killed on Saturday in a surprise Hamas attack in the south. His parents received the bitter news yesterday morning, but the IDF could not tell them how he was killed in battle. A few hours later, they learned from a post published by Golani's 13th Battalionmates, Yarden Daniel and Emery, that during the fighting for Kibbutz Nir Am, he and 6 of his comrades were attacked by more than 50 terrorists.
Matan Abergel's mother at his funeral: "You took charge and fought until the bitter end"
They were inside the APC and after constant fighting in an attempt to defend the kibbutz, one of the terrorists threw a grenade into their APC. In order to save his friends, Matan pressed him to his chest and died after it exploded. His last words to his friends were: "I tried to do everything to defend the people of Israel."
During the funeral, his mother eulogized him and spoke of the difficult feelings that accompany her: "My beloved Matan, I refuse to believe that you are no longer with us. The heart is broken to pieces. You were an amazing kid with great humor, who strove to go as far as possible. Always showing up for every mission first, that's also what you did that the murderous terrorists surprised you. You took charge and fought to the bitter end. Our child is brave and heroic, you have become an angel and will protect us from above."
Matan Abergil's father, z"h, eulogized him at his funeral,
His friend Imri Mirer wept alongside his teammates who survived with him and said of his grave: "On our behalf and on behalf of all the friends we thank you very much, you saved us all and protected us with your body. You are a true hero, you are a real soul. I will forever remember you and tell your story, wherever I go."
Daniel Werch, who was with Matan in the APC, said: "We were in Kibbutz Nir if we encountered terrorists, I was with Matan in the tiger, we were surrounded. We had no way out. One of the terrorists threw a grenade into the tiger. Matan saw the grenade. Jumped on it. I tried to stop him, but it was too late. There were 7 of us along with him. 6 survived. After a minute I open my eyes, he says to me: "I tried to do everything to protect the people of Israel." Daniel adds: "It's not easy to lose a really good friend. I'm a paramedic, I tried to save him, I saw that there was no pulse and I said, 'He's not with us.' Regarding the state of the battalion that remains today, Daniel says: "Everyone remained strong. We want to fight for the dead. My battalion is still in Sderot, I'm wounded."
"Always wanted to do for others"
Yuval Masri (19), his good friend, said: "Matan was with me from basic training together, a man who always gave always wanted to do for others, I wasn't surprised he did it. It's just him. I would share everything with him, we would fight among ourselves over who would get the last bite, each wanting to give up to the other. He never complained, always with a smile on his face."
Matan Abergil z"l, photo: private photo
Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Council, eulogized him, saying: "You were not afraid and did not hesitate, you fought and fell like a hero with your comrades in arms defending our country and our people. You are the scion of a heroic people, the successor of King David and Joshua ben Nun. To his parents, he said: "At such a difficult and cruel hour, Matan fought with courage and fortitude, as you raised him. As he was in citizenship, contributing and contributing, and loving. Just as he absorbed from you, your parents, neighbors and friends from the Hermesh family in northern Samaria, you are part of the story of Samaria forever." Finally, Dagan called for Matan to be awarded the Medal of Valor: "I call on the Minister of Defense and the Chief of Staff to award him the highest decoration, the Medal of Valor."
Matan Abergil, 19, was the fourth person murdered in the Samaria Regional Council. Matan is the youngest of 4 children. His two brothers were drafted on Saturday by Order 2. He served in the Golani, from an old family in the settlement of Hermesh in Samaria, his cousin Avraham Cohen was murdered at a nature party in the south the day before.
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