The IDF reported Saturday evening that two soldiers were killed in combat in Jabaliya, northern Gaza. They were named as Staff Sgt. Itay Parizat, 20, from Petah Tikva, and Staff Sgt. Yair Hananya, 22, from Mitzpe Netofa. Both soldiers served with the Shaked Battalion of the Givati Brigade.
The IDF reported that a third soldier from the same unit sustained serious injuries during the incident. The wounded soldier was evacuated for medical treatment, and his family has been notified, officials said.
Since the beginning of the war, the IDF's death toll has reached 780 fatalities.
Shiri Hananya, sister-in-law of Staff Sgt. Yair Hananya, shared that “We received the news on Shabbat. Military representatives came to the parents’ house with the difficult message. Yair was the youngest of six siblings and set to finish his service in two months. He dreamed of traveling around Israel and the world, cherished every piece of land in Israel, and was deeply connected to the people and the state.
"He graduated from Hispin Yeshiva High School in the Golan Heights and attended the Hesder Yeshiva in Yeruham. Quiet and humble, he was a talented musician with an angelic voice, the most value-driven and sensitive person I know. He chose meaningful military service over Hesder."
Nitzan Peleg, head of the Lower Galilee Regional Council, also paid tribute, saying, “Yair was the youngest of six, born and raised in the Lower Galilee. He volunteered for combat service. His mother, Batya, is a senior manager in the council, and we all stand with this honorable family in support.”
The council added that Staff Sgt. Hananya “was an exceptional, value-oriented individual, determined to serve in the most meaningful way. During his last leave, he visited the council’s Gil HaGalil senior center to play music for the residents. He is the sixth child of a prominent family in the community—his mother Batya heads the department of community development, and his father, Dr. Shai Hananya, is a senior pediatric pulmonary specialist at HaEmek Medical Center.”
Rami Greenberg, Mayor of Petah Tikva, announced with sorrow, “We have learned of the passing of Petah Tikva resident Staff Sgt. Itay Parizat, who fell in battle in northern Gaza.” He added that Parizat was a graduate of Golda High School and served in the Givati Brigade’s Shaked Battalion. “We bow our heads in grief at the loss of another hero from our city, and we support the family in this difficult time. May his memory be blessed.”
The past weeks have seen intensive IDF operations to dismantle remaining terror headquarters in Jabaliya. Last Tuesday, four soldiers from the elite Multi-Dimensional Unit, known as the Ghost Unit, were killed by an explosive device in a high-rise building in Jabaliya. The fallen were Captain Yehonatan (Joni) Keren, 22, Staff Sergeant Nisim Meytal, 20, Staff Sergeant Aviv Gilboa, 21 and Staff Sergeant Naor Haimov, 22. Three other soldiers were wounded in the incident.
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