Cpl. Tamir Barak, a 19-year-old soldier from Kibbutz Nir Eliyahu was killed on Sunday night during a local raid inside the Gaza Strip. He was a member of the Combat Engineering Corps and was killed by anti-tank fire.
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Brig. Gen. Daniel Hagari, the IDF spokesman, said that the raid, which took place in the Kissufim area, aimed to "prepare the area" for an anticipated ground operation and to gather intelligence regarding missing and abducted individuals. In addition to Barak, three other soldiers sustained moderate and minor injuries during the incident.
Tamir is survived by his parents, Almog and Golan, as well as his two siblings, Sagi and Yogev. Tamir's uncle, Benny Barak Brooks, also lost his life during war-time, in the Yom Kippur War in a battle on the Golan Heights 50 years ago, in 1973. The date? October 7.
"They say lightning doesn't strike twice in the same place. It's probably a mistake. It hit us, and how it hit us," said another one of Tamir's uncles. "Tamir, my nephew, was a charming boy with an eternal smile. His loss has left a huge void in my heart."
On Sunday night, Oshrat Gani Gonen, the head of the South Sharon Regional Council, conveyed her deep sadness and pain upon receiving the tragic news of Tamir Barak's passing. "Our hearts are shattered," she said. "The South Sharon Regional Council stands in solidarity with the Barak family, Moyal, and the Nir Eliyahu community during this incredibly difficult time. May he rest in peace."