Capt. Itay Ariel Giat, z”l

Captain Itay Ariel Giat, son of Dganit and Erez, brother to Liraz and Amit, and partner of Noa, grew up in Shoham. He was a bright and curious child who loved reading books from an early age. Itay studied at the “Avnei HaHoshen” state religious elementary school and later at the “Shalhevet” yeshiva. An outstanding student in the physics and computer science track, he even received an award for excellence from the Ministry of Education. Itay had a big smile and a big heart. He was a counselor in Bnei Akiva, volunteered with Magen David Adom, and taught children mathematics on a volunteer basis through the “Nachshonnet” project. A natural-born leader who excelled in everything with humility, he loved fantasy books, economics, and politics. He enjoyed watching science fiction and fantasy films – especially Marvel and Star Wars movies – and loved strategy games that required thinking. Itay’s friends say he was the center and the glue of the group. A soccer enthusiast, creative, witty, and cynical, he left his mark everywhere he went.

In April 2020, Itay enlisted in the IDF, first joining the Naval Officers Course and later serving as a combat soldier in the elite Yahalom unit. He was an outstanding and responsible soldier. Itay went on to the officers’ course and became a beloved commander and officer, a role model who received certificates of excellence and appreciation. A giving person, he always put the good of his family, friends, partner, and soldiers before his own. A talented young man, he invested his army salary in stocks and planned to buy an apartment and a car. He dreamed of studying electrical engineering and physics and working in development at Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.

On October 7, 2023, the holiday of Simchat Torah 5784, Hamas launched a murderous surprise attack on Israel. Under the cover of barrages of thousands of rockets, thousands of armed terrorists crossed the border into Israel, infiltrating cities and taking control of communities, outposts, and bases. The terrorists murdered around eight hundred civilians and abducted hundreds of Israelis to the Gaza Strip. Hundreds of security personnel fell in battle. Following the attack, the State of Israel went to war. Itay was given command of a team of fighters and participated in numerous operations in the Gaza Strip. He demonstrated physical and mental resilience, leadership, and devotion. During the fighting, he was wounded in the leg but insisted on returning to combat. After fighting in Gaza, Itay and his team moved to the northern sector to locate and neutralize Hezbollah weapons. He took part in covert operations in preparation for the ground maneuver in Lebanon. Itay was about to begin a new role as head of the EOD field in Yahalom, but then the ground maneuver in Lebanon started, and he was called north once again.

On October 2, 2024, Itay fell in battle in Lebanon. During an operation in the village of al-Adaisseh, the force he was in encountered a terrorist cell, and a gun battle ensued inside a building. Itay engaged with the enemy, returned fire, fought with unwavering devotion, and saved the lives of his fellow fighters until he fell in battle. He was 23 years old. Itay was laid to rest in the military cemetery on Mount Herzl. In a letter he left for his family, Itay wrote: “To everyone I love – I’m sorry. But I have no choice. We have no other country.”

May his memory be blessed.