Col. Roi Levy, 44: Wounded, rehabilitated, returned to fight

Col. Roi Yosef Levy, 44, the head of the IDF Multidomain Unit, also known as the Ghost Unit, was killed as his forces battled Hamas terrorists in the southern community of Re’im on October 7.

Levy was buried on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem on October 9.

Born in the US, he moved to Israel in 1982 when he was 3 years old. He is survived by his wife, Yael, their five children, Tzuria, Zohar, Avigayil, Yoav and Yonatan, as well as his parents, Yehudit and Shlomo, and his siblings Ido, Nir and Eli.

“He led his team bravely, engaged [the terrorists], and was first into the battle in Kibbutz Re’im, in order to save citizens who were besieged in their homes,” the IDF said. Some 10 Palestinian terrorists were killed in the exchange, the army added.

He was seriously wounded during Operation Protective Edge in 2014, but after a long rehabilitation period, he returned to combat service.

“You were supposed to watch us get married and walk us to the huppah,” his three daughters, Tzuria, Zohar and Avigayil, said at his funeral. “We’re not asking for much — just one more conversation, one more hug… you were our hero.”

His close friend, renowned singer Idan Raichel, spoke at the funeral as well: “He wanted to live, but he died as a fighter.”

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