Hundreds of people accompanied Staff Sergeant Roy Dawi of the Givati Brigade, who was killed in battle in the Gaza Strip, to eternal rest on Thursday at the Mount Herzl military cemetery. His family, friends, and many civilians, some draped in Israeli flags, came to pay their last respects.
Staff Sergeant Dawi was killed by an anti-tank missile in the armored personnel carrier in which he was traveling with his fighters. Just before entering Gaza, Roy wrote a WhatsApp message to the family: "Mom and Dad, I love you. You were the best there is. If to die, then only like that. I don't regret anything. I had the best service you could ask for, with the sweetest ending."
Funeral of Staff Sergeant Roy Dawi, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Roy Dawi was laid to rest on Mount Herzl, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Betty, Roy's mother, spoke of her feelings before the gospel of Job: "We spoke on the phone and I knew it was the last call. For 25 days I've been waiting for a knock on the door. Play basketball upstairs with Liel Gidoni, start a team because you went together."
His father, Aryeh, painfully told his son: "You have privileged me to be a bereaved father."
Eden, Roy's sister, asked her brother for forgiveness: "Lord Roy will not be missed, however much you are missed. Sorry I didn't look after you. I will look after our parents. With bereavement we are."
The funeral of Staff Sergeant Roy Dawi. "We were waiting for a knock on the door", photo: Oren Ben Hakon
The funeral of Roy Dawi z"l. "Take care of yourself", photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Nitzan, the spouse of Staff Sergeant Roy Dawi, found it difficult to say goodbye to her beloved: "I don't know how to continue. We planned a house that was all white and wooden. You said we were forever. I keep our rings forever."
Hapoel Jerusalem wrote: "Staff Sgt. Roy Dawi was supposed to celebrate his 21st birthday this week. It was important for Oz, Yuval and Or to congratulate him. The next day he died as a hero defending our home. He didn't get to see this blessing. The pain is unbearable. Our hearts are with the dear Dawi family."
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