The IDF announced on Saturday the death of Master Sergeant (res.) Amishar Ben David in combat on Friday in the southern Gaza Strip.
Ben David was 43 years old, from Eli in Samaria, and a commander in the Oz Commando Brigade.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich revealed on Saturday evening that Ben David was his cousin, mourning his loss in an X post.
“My dear cousin, Amishar, a hero of Israel, fell in the battle in Gaza,” the finance minister wrote. “We grew up together. Relatively few cousins with a strong and special bond.”
Smotrich shared a photo of the two from a family barbecue event held last summer, writing: “Who would have dreamed that this would be the last picture? The pain is immense. An indescribable loss.”
בן דודי היקר, עמישר, גיבור ישראל נפל בקרב בעזה.גדלנו יחד.מעט יחסית בני דודים עם קשר חזק ומיוחד."שנר" קראנו לו.חופשים, שבתות, טיולים, שמחות. איזה איש. איזה כאב. אין מילים.על האש משותף בקיץ האחרון. מי חלם שזו תהיה התמונה האחרונה.איש משפחה אהוב. pic.twitter.com/yHR2TuElwr
— בצלאל סמוטריץ' (@bezalelsm) March 9, 2024
Additionally, the IDF announced that another officer from the same brigade was seriously injured and was brought to a hospital for treatment.
The military announced that troops fighting in the Khan Yunis area killed more than 20 terrorists in face-to-face combat and air force strikes during fighting over the weekend.
IDF troops also engaged terrorists in the Hamad residential towns north of Khan Yunis and arrested a number of terrorists in the area.
Terrorists in the area of Beit Hanon were eliminated after attacks were launched on Sderot overnight.