TIMES OF ISRAEL
by Staff
July 21, 2014

Officers, conscripts leave behind grieving wives, parents, brothers and sisters after bloody day of fighting in the Shejaiya neighborhood of Gaza City

The IDF on Sunday evening released the names of five out of 13 Israeli soldiers killed in combat in the Gaza Strip before dawn.

The soldiers were: Maj. Tsafrir Baror, 32, of Holon; Capt. Tsvi Kaplan, 28, of Kibbutz Meirav; Sgt. Gilad Yacoby, 21, of Kiryat Ono; Sgt. Oz Mendelovich, 21, of Atzmon and Sgt. Sean Carmeli, 21, of Ra’anana.

[Left to right in pictures above]

Sgt. Oz Mendelovich of Atzmon in the Galilee was visited by his father Ofer days before entering Gaza. Ofer said he had taken a train to the south to visit his son a week ago because he had had “a bad feeling.” He took a picture of his son with his friends, then thought of it as an ominous act. Oz laughed it off saying “But you’ve already taken my picture.” He leaves behind his parents, a sister and a brother.

Sgt. Sean Carmeli of Ra’anana was born and raised in Texas. He immigrated to Israel in 2009, joining his two sisters here, and completed his High School studies. He was drafted to Golani in 2012. His parents are on their way to Israel after receiving word of their son’s death.

Capt. Tsvi Kaplan of Kibbutz Meirav grew up in Haifa. He served in various command positions in Golani and was set to become a company commander within the coming months. He leaves behind a wife and two children, aged 5 and 3.

Maj. Tsafrir Baror of Holon had served in the Golani Brigade for the past 14 years and had fought in Gaza, Lebanon and the West Bank. He leaves behind a wife, 8 months pregnant, and a year-old daughter.

Sgt. Gilad Yacoby of Kiryat Ono was drafted into the service in March 2012. He was described by his family a sports and music lover who was highly motivated to serve in the IDF. He leaves behind his parents and two sisters.

READ MORE  http://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-releases-names-photos-of-5-soldiers-killed-in-gaza/#ixzz3842dafop