Staff Sgt. Uri Yhonatan Cohen, z”l

Staff Sergeant Uri Yehonatan Cohen, the son of Yaara and Adi, brother to Eyal, Gal, Dan, and Nir, grew up among the paths of Moshav Neve Yarak in the southern Sharon. He was a sweet and charming child with a constant smile.

Uri studied at Yarkon Elementary School and was a friendly and well-loved student. His friends recall that he was the heart and glue of the group, always surrounded by friends. Raised on values of love for the land and for people, he was a polite, kind-hearted boy, first to volunteer, first to help.

Uri loved sports, especially soccer. He was an outstanding player who played for Hapoel Kfar Saba and later for Hapoel Petah Tikva in the Premier League, primarily as a central midfielder. On the field, as in life, Uri was a player of spirit – smart, composed, and of high quality.

The shy, slender boy grew into a fine young man, a salt-of-the-earth Israeli with great inner strength – both mental and physical – full of joy for life. He was someone who set goals for himself and never hesitated to work hard until he achieved them. Uri was a good-hearted, pleasant young man you couldn’t help but love.

Shortly before enlisting, one of Uri’s former coaches approached him and asked him to play for Or Yehuda’s soccer team, which needed reinforcement. Uri stepped up to the challenge, showing determination and maturity, and led his team to success. Despite his talent and the possibility of a career as an outstanding athlete, he chose instead to enlist in a meaningful combat role, viewing his contribution to the country’s security as a mission.

Uri enlisted in the IDF’s Combat Engineering Corps, in the elite Yahalom Unit, in December 2023. His team members describe him as a professional, level-headed, serious, beloved, and courageous fighter – a leader.

On October 7, 2023, 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 about 800 civilians and abducted hundreds of Israelis to the Gaza Strip. Hundreds of security personnel fell in the battles. Following the attack, Israel entered a state of war. At the outbreak of the war, Uri was still a young soldier in training. He completed the demanding and grueling course and joined combat operations. Uri fought in Syria, in Lebanon, and in the Gaza Strip, taking part in difficult and complex battles and operations, during which he demonstrated courage, composure, and determination.

On June 6, 2025, Uri fell in battle in southern Gaza. He was 20 years old. He was laid to rest in the cemetery of Moshav Neve Yarak. Ten months before he fell, his mother wrote on Facebook: “How did my son put it? ‘Someone has to do it.’”

May his memory be blessed.