Sgt. Tzahi Grabli

Aug 25, 2001 - Tzahi Grabli, 19 of Holon was killed when two Palestinian terrorists infiltrated an IDF base in Gush Katif in the Gaza Strip. The attackers, members of the PLO Fatah faction and of the Palestinian security forces, were killed by IDF soldiers.

At about 3:00 AM Saturday morning, three Palestinians crept toward the Marganit IDF outpost built to protect the settlement of Atzmona, in the southern end of Gush Katif. The terrorists charged into the outpost, threw hand grenades and opened fire.

Tzahi Grabli was killed in the attack, along with Maj. Gil Oz and St.-Sgt. Kobi Nir; seven soldiers were wounded.

Tzahi, or Chucky, as his friends called him, grew up in Holon, where he attended the Kiryat Sharett High School, majoring in sports. His hobbies were basketball, Internet, and writing poetry. He wrote a poem in his high school yearbook entitled, "Thus do the good days pass by", describing the moment when they will leave school and begin their future lives:

It ends suddenly,
but every loss is also a victory.
Old friends will probably disappear,
and there opposite us will stand
the new friends who will accompany us.

Tzahi enlisted in the army nine months ago, and, like his older brother, he volunteered for combat service.

Tzahi Grabli will be buried in the military section of the Holon cemetery. He is survived by his parents, his brother Niv (24) and his sister Danit (15).