Captain Oshri Moshe Butzhak, 22, from Haifa, a team commander in the Nahal Patrol, fell in battle in the northern Gaza Strip in an encounter with terrorists who were killed in the Tufah neighborhood in northeastern Gaza City. Oshri studied at the Tefahot Yeshiva and gave up the track in order to enlist in the IDF. His friend Adi said that it was important for Oshri to enlist in the army and serve in a combat unit. Oshri is survived by his parents, Eyal and Reut, five brothers, Harel, Talia, Nevo, Hagai and Tzahala, and his fiancée, Ravid Damti.
Adi Aloni, a friend of Oshri's who was killed in the Gaza Strip: "He and his fiancée should have gotten married in July - fell like a hero" // Credit: Michel Dot Com
Adi Aloni, Oshri's friend, said: "Oshri was a true friend who grew up begging in Kiryat Shmuel in Haifa. He enlisted in the Nahal Patrol, completed an officers' course, got engaged to his girlfriend Ravid before the fighting began. They were supposed to get married in July."
Speaks of him in the past tense and does not believe it
"This is a very difficult loss for our class, for our friends," Adi said painfully. "Oshri arrived a week and a half ago for the first time since the beginning of the fighting. He was a hero and fell as a hero. Family and friends are broken. We want the soldiers to return to peace, the kidnapped, to protect us, to know how to commemorate my happiness, my friend of 16 years since first grade."
Captain Oshri Moshe laughs with his fiancée, Ravid. They had to get married in July, photo: from Instagram
"When he went home, he said they stayed in homes, stayed with families, did a good cleansing job. Eliminate terrorists. They made sure to move houses, avoid harming innocent people, and do what he was taught to do from a young age. He enlisted in combat as we were educated. The whole neighborhood is officers and battalions. This is what we were educated at Yeshiva High School. Give and do as much as possible. We will know how to commemorate him. I speak of him in the past tense and I don't believe it."
"The news fell on us out of the blue. In the middle of Holy Shabbat. What a reality it is that grandparents bury a grandchild. He was the pride of his family, the crown of their heads. How happy it was when he was here. We were so prepared for his wedding that unfortunately it won't happen anymore."
IDF Spokesperson: "This war has a heavy price, the ground operation is necessary to achieve the goals of the war" // IDF Spokesperson
"He always wanted to come in first. Most visceral. That's how we were all educated here in the neighborhood. Oshri studied at Yeshiva Tefahot, was on the Seder track and enlisted in the Nahal Patrol where so many soldiers were killed. He went to Beit Jan to comfort the parents of the late soldier Adi. It was important to him. He fell as a hero, may his memory be blessed."
IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Daniel Hagari, in his daily update, referred to the fall of fighters in the battles in Gaza, saying: "Our fighters are fighting bravely in battles with the enemy, there are also fatalities for our forces. It must be said, this is part of the war, it is a difficult war, against a cruel enemy that has been assimilated in the ground above ground and especially below it, and also within the civilian population. We are striking him, but this is a protracted and difficult operation that will continue for some time."
Along with him, the names of four other fallen soldiers were allowed to be published: Staff Sgt. Nir Raphael Kannian, 20, from Beit Keshet, a soldier in the Givati Patrol; Staff Sgt. Birhanu Kasia, 22, from Beit Shemesh, a soldier in the Givati Patrol; Sergeant Major (Res.) Shai Termin, 26, from Rosh Pina, a soldier in Battalion 6623, the "Spearhead" Brigade (55th Brigade), Sergeant Major (Res.) Alexander Spitz, 41, from Karmiel, a soldier in Battalion 6623, the "Spearhead" Formation.
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