Jerusalem – Eight IDF Soldiers Killed In Action Laid To Rest (photos)

Jerusalem – Eight IDF soldiers killed in Gaza fighting since Friday were buried on Sunday.

Staff-Sgt. Amit Yeori was buried at 3 p.m. at the Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem.

“I trusted you that you would not leave us so suddenly without any warning or preparation,” said Noam Yaori at the funeral of her older brother Amit on Sunday afternoon in Jerusalem.

Staff Sergeant Amit Yaori, 20, who was killed in battle in Gaza on Saturday, was laid to rest in the capital’s Mount Herzl military cemetery, accompanied by hundreds of people, his family, friends, army comrades and fellow Jerusalemites who came to escort him on his final journey.

Yaori was a member of the combat engineers, which is looking for and destroying the terror tunnels that have been identified by the IDF as a serious threat to Israel’s security, and was killed in battle when entering a terrorist-held structure in the Gaza strip.

The crowds gathered at the cemetery on Sunday where six other soldiers have been buried in the past few days, their graves still fresh and the wreaths laid upon them still covering the earth where they lie.

Those who came to eulogize Amit described him as a outstanding young man, intelligent, gifted and motivated who would be forever missed by those who knew him and were close to him.

“We are left with a giant open wound which will never be healed,” said his Aunt. “On Friday one part of our lives ended, and another began, painful and hard. Now, all happiness will always be accompanied by sadness. It doesn’t matter where we’ll be, you’ll always be there,” she continued.

“I want so much that you’ll sit beside me so I can hug you and really feel you, we love you in your entirety and we miss you so much, we miss you so much it hurts and suffocates and is simply incomprehensible.”

Amit’s sister Noam described him as “an amazing big brother,” and “a figure of admiration” about whom she spoke of all the time.

“You were clever person, with a head on your shoulders, talented and capable. How can I say goodbye?… Everyone has come to give their condolences but I am not absorbing this news. I trusted you that you would not leave us so suddenly without any warning or preparation.”

Amit’s father Shahar recalled the last telephone calls and text messages he exchanged with his son, including a phone conversation two weeks ago when he told him his parents could visit him if they wanted.

Shahar noted that Amit had never requested a visit from his parents during his army service, nor a food package, and that he understood from his comment that he wanted them to visit him, which they did.

Eliran, a close friend of Amit’s, also took to the podium to give a eulogy, wondering how it was possible that just a month ago they had hiked along the coast.

“Amit, beloved friend and brother, the sentence that best describes your personality is ‘still waters run deep’,” Eliran said. “You were full of compassion, knowledgable, wise and a quality person. You can be proud because you fought with heroism that characterises who you are. You always were and will always be a hero.”

The principle of the high school were Amit studied said that the fallen soldier had reflected the beauty of the Land of Israel and described Amit’s dedication to physical training in order to gain acceptance to an IDF combat unit.

One of Amit’s senior commanders said that he had fought courageously in Gaza and had been the first in the unit to enter the terrorist structures they were searching for.

Speaking to The Jerusalem Post, Dan Levy a soldier in the combat engineers and a freind of Amit’s said he had been a fantastic person.

“He was one of the strongest people I knew, ethical, stubborn and would argue with everyone about everything,” Levy said

“He was a funny guy, he would crack jokes about other people, about himself, he had a big laugh and a big smile, thats what I remember about him, and whenever he would see me he would call my name.”

In attendance at the funeral was also Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat.

“You Amit represented everything beautiful in the youth of Israel and Jerusalem,” Barkat said. “You were Good looking, strong and powerful with a sense of humour, quiet and thoughtful.

“Everyone knew of your will and motivation to enlist to a combat unit and to contribute to the best of your abilities,” the mayor continued.

Barkat noted that friends of Amit had described him as being always first in line to take on a task, and that had been the case in the battle when he went in first and was the first to be injured.

“You were killed in a defensive battle on the southern border, in a war the purpose of which is to return quiet and security to the citizens of the State of Israel especially in the south, a war to expose and destroy terror tunnels, to harm Hamas’ terror infrastructure and to destroy rocket stores in the Gaza strip,” Barkat said.

“In recent days we have exposed the plans for mass murder which the terrorists planned to carry out through the terror tunnels and understand how the fighting during this campaign has saved lives in the State of Israel.

“The Jewish people is untied today and filled with recognition and thanks to you Amit and all your comrades and the fighters of the IDF and the security srvivecs we salute you.”

Amit Yaori is survived by his parents, and his younger brother and sister.

Second-Lt. Roy Peles was laid to rest at 7 p.m. at the military cemetery in Kiryat Shaul in Tel Aviv.

Lt. Roy Peles, 21, was buried Sunday night right next to Sgt. Gilad Rosenthal Yacoby’s fresh grave from less than a week ago.

Section 20 of the Kiryat Shaul cemetery in Tel Aviv was new, with only seven graves before Operation Protective Edge began, but its second row was half filled in the last week.

Peles, who finished the IDF officers’ course one month ago and led a reconnaissance staff in the Nahal brigade, was killed on Friday night, when an anti-tank missile hit the building in Gaza that he was in.

Peles’ friends and families painted a picture of an eternal optimist with a warm, contagious smile who excelled in school and the army and was committed to volunteering, doing a year of civilian service through the Meitzar Mechina in the Golan before enlisting.

“The only thing wrong with you is you didn’t believe how perfect you are,” his cousin Naama Veron said. “You were my hero…You didn’t know how much I admired you. The world is not as good a place without you.”

Throughout the funeral proceedings, wind-chimes could be heard from a nearby section in which victims of terror and soldiers killed in the line of duty in 2002 were buried. The area was turned into a colorful garden with potted plants, garden gnomes, and a Snow White figurine.

The chimes rang in the background as a cantor’s chanting could be heard in the distance and everyone who was seated rose.

They continued ringing as Peles’ casket was lowered into the ground, while IDF officers huddled around his parents and older twin sisters, who were sobbing in each other’s arms.

Peles’ sisters Leigh and Shani described the difficulty of accepting their brother is no longer with them.

“Last night, all your friends came over and, like every other time, I expected you to be there. I waited and waited and it didn’t happen,” one of the sisters said, and they both broke down crying.

“You will always be the sweet, beloved boy with the kind eyes, my little brother. You touched the hearts of everyone you met,” she added. “How are we supposed to continue our lives without seeing your smile or hearing your laugh or feeling your hug?”

Nahal Reconnaissance Battalion Commander Lt.-Col. Manny Liberty said “Roy was a hero in his life and will remain a hero after his death.”

Liberty described a soldier and an officer who was modest and stood up for his values.

“I loved you. You’re the salt of the earth,” he said.

“Roy, my dear brother, I want to tell you what you couldn’t see. When the missile hit the house [in Gaza] in which you fought, I was a floor below you. You didn’t see how the staff kept its composure and continued to fight even after you were hit. The were brave because you believed in them and their abilities,” Liberty said.

“We are fighting a despicable enemy, but our unit is completing its missions and destroying Hamas,” the officer reassured mourners.

When Veron spoke, she said Peles saw his army service as a mission to defend Israel.

“We are still here because of brave people like you. We will continue our lives, because nothing symbolizes love of life like you do,” she concluded.

The other soldiers laid to rest today are

Sgt.-Maj. Ramo Kahlon in the military cemetery in Hadera.

Staff-Sgt. Gal Bason in the Holon cemetery.

Staff-Sgt. Guy Levy at the military section of the Kfar Vradim cemetery.

Staff-Sgt. Guy Boyland in Ginosar, in the military section of the cemetery.

Staff-Sgt. Avraham Grintzvaig, in the military cemetery of Petah Tikva.

Sergeant First Class (Res.) Barak Refael Degorker.