Lt. Aviv Hakani

May 12, 2004 - Capt. Aviv Hakani, 23, of Ashdod, was one of five IDF soldiers killed when their armored personnel carrier exploded, apparently hit by an anti-tank rocket.

The APC, part of a military convoy traveling on the border road between Egypt and Rafah on the Philadelphi Route, was transporting dozens of kilograms of explosives to be used to detonate weapon-smuggling tunnels along the Israeli-Egyptian border near Rafah. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack, in which five were killed and three wounded.

Lt. Aviv Hakani, posthumously elevated to the rank of Captain, served as a tunnels officer in the IDF Gaza division, uncovering weapons-smuggling tunnels built by the Palestinians. He had originally tried out for a pilots' course and naval reconnaissance, but eventually joined the Engineeing Corps, where he completed his officers' training.

Aviv took a particular interest in how the tunnels were built, and would remain inside after the other soldiers had left, and had become an expert on the subject. Friends related that he found his role in the army fulfilling. Although he was offered other positions in the army, he insisted on remaining with his engineering unit.

Aviv grew up in Kfar Aza and in Dorot, until the family moved to Ashdod.

His father, Chaim, said, "He was tough on the outside, and soft inside. He was both a strict commander and an incurable romantic." Chaim added that he son liked courting danger and had taken a course in free flying. Aviv's troops related that when they had free time he would take them to look at flowers and listen to birds. His mother, Edna, said, "I was always afraid, but Aviv would say, 'If I'm not there, who will do the work?' I was so proud of him."

Capt. Aviv Hakani was buried in the Ashdod Military Cemetery. He is survived by his parents and two sisters, Einav, an IDF soldier, and Adva.