Staff Sgt. Yaly Seror, z”l

Staff Sergeant Yaly Seror, the youngest son of Orly and Ofir, brother to Raz and Stav, grew up in the town of Omer. His mother says he was a “shining diamond.” A child whose heart could be seen through his eyes by anyone who met him.

Yaly, a graduate of “Omer High School,” grew into a charismatic young man, full of values, who loved people and the land. A charming youth who touched many with his captivating smile, his outstretched hand, his sensitivity, his attentiveness, and his unconditional love. Everyone who met Yaly fell in love with him. He loved working with his hands under the sun, cherished the land on which he grew up, and enjoyed tending the garden, walking among the olive groves on his family’s estate, and cultivating fruit trees.

Yaly had a deep bond with his two older brothers. He was a devoted son and brother who loved his family and his friends. Humble and with an inner calm, he accepted every person as they were and respected them all.

“If it’s important to you, fight for it,” Yaly would say, and that’s how he lived. Since childhood, he dreamed of being a combat soldier and defending the country. When his older brother Stav would return home from the army, Yaly would always ask him to teach him about his weapon.

In August 2023, Yaly enlisted in the IDF's Combat Engineering Corps. After completing the tryouts, he was chosen to serve in the elite Yahalom unit and was assigned as a fighter in the “Tzurim” squadron, specializing in underground warfare. Yaly was an outstanding soldier, talented and determined, always at the front, first, ready for any challenge. He was beloved by his friends and commanders, with a broad smile, good energy, and rolling laughter.

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 around eight hundred 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 that time, Yaly was still in his training course. He completed the course successfully and joined the fighting in Gaza.

For five consecutive months, Yaly fought in the Gaza Strip with courage, driven by a deep sense of mission and faith that as a fighter in an elite unit, it was his duty to defend the state and home. His two brothers were also fighting in Gaza. Yaly carried out every mission assigned to him with excellence, with attention to detail, and was determined and focused on his goal.

Before leaving for his final mission, Yaly was at home on leave. When he heard that soldiers were needed to go into Gaza to deal with a tunnel, he immediately declared, “I volunteer.” He cut his vacation short and reported for duty.

On May 3, 2025, Yaly fell in battle in the southern Gaza Strip. He was 20 years old. Yaly was laid to rest in the military section of the cemetery in Omer. His mother eulogized him: “A rare kind, one in a million.”

May his memory be blessed.