Sgt. Aviv Iszak

June 22, 2001 - Sgt. Aviv Iszak, 19, of Kfar Saba was killed near Dugit in the Gaza Strip as a jeep with yellow Israeli license plates, supposedly stuck in the sand, blew up as he and Sgt. Ofir Kit approached the jeep.

On Friday afternoon, a Givati unit was patrolling the Shikma beach area near Dugit when the soldiers noticed a jeep with Israeli license plates apparently stuck in the sand. Several Palestinians nearby beckoned to the soldiers for assistance. Iszak and Kit got out of their jeep and walked toward the stuck jeep. The suicide bomber inside detonated his explosives, mortally wounding the two, who died shortly after.

A close friend of the Iszak family described Aviv as an outstanding student and excellent basketball player. Aviv, drafted 11 months ago into the army, had wanted to serve in an elite combat unit, but joined the Givati infantry brigade because of his eyesight. He served for two months in Kfar Darom, in the southern Gaza Strip and was recently sent to the Dugit area, considered a quieter assignment. He was to have soon to have begun officer training.

Aviv graduated from the Katznelson high school in Kfar Saba. He began his studies in the special basketball track, but then switched to a class for gifted pupils, majoring in chemistry and physics. He had planned to continue his studies in physics after his army service.

Aviv Iszak is survived by his parents, Hannah and Ilan, and his younger brother, Omer (16), and sister, Noa (10). He was laid to rest in the military cemetary in Kfar Saba.