Sgt. Ofir Kit

June 22, 2001 - Sgt. Ofir Kit, 19, of Jerusalem 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. Aviv Iszak 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. Kit and Iszak 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.

Ofir had phoned his parents just 15 minutes earlier. He told his father that he was not afraid to die for his country, if necessary. He said he had to hang up because his friend, Aviv, needed his help. They then approached the jeep.

Ofir's cousin related that he was tall and good-looking, a good student and an excellent sportsman. He attended at the Himmelfarb religious school in Jerusalem. The Kit family lost their eldest son, Israel, eight years ago, to cancer. Ofir was the family's mainstay, encouraging them to continue with their lives. He had planned to study law after his army service.

Kit's father Omer delivered the final eulogy. "Burying a son is like the destruction of the Temple," he said. "I've lost two sons, and experienced, it seems, the destruction of both Temples. I hope I won't become a second Job, bereft of all sons."

Ofir Kit was buried at the military cemetery on Mt. Herzl in Jerusalem. He is survived by his parents, Dina and Omer, and his younger brother Yair.