Cpt. Nitay Amar, 22: Combat engineer ‘fought until the last moment’
Killed battling the Hamas invasion of the Re’im IDF base on October 7
Cpt. Nitay Amar, 22, a combat engineering officer in the Gaza Division’s Southern Gaza Brigade, from Kibbutz Alumim, was killed on October 7 battling the Hamas invasion of the Re’im IDF base.
Nitay was home with his family for the holiday weekend in Kibbutz Alumim, but when he heard of the attack, he hurried back to the Gaza Division’s headquarters at the Re’im base.
His father, Michael, told Ynet that “when the sirens started we all jumped up to go to the bomb shelter, and Nitay didn’t come. He said ‘I have to run’ but he didn’t say why.”
Michael said they believe Nitay “saw in the commanders’ WhatsApp group about the terror invasion of the Gaza Division and decided to join them and help. We accompanied him to the car and we parted ways — we didn’t know it was the last time we’d see each other.” His family remained holed up in the bomb shelter for more than 24 hours before they were ultimately rescued unharmed.
On his way to the base, Nitay’s car came under fire and he abandoned it at the side of the road, continuing on foot until he arrived. He managed to get to the base and fought there against the Hamas invasion for several hours until he was killed in the firefight. His final conversation was with his girlfriend at 1:43 p.m., not long before he died.
He was buried on October 10 in Netanya. He is survived by his parents, Revital and Michael, and his four siblings, Yahel, Matar, Maayan and Alma.
Born and raised in Kibbutz Alumim, next to the Gaza border, Nitay’s family said he was a computer whiz and dreamed of one day founding his own startup. He enlisted in the IDF in November 2020, undergoing a squad commanders course and later an officer’s course.
His girlfriend, Eden Itzhakov, wrote on Instagram that she was “privileged to be by your side for almost four years — you are my pride and joy! I am proud of the path you took and who you are. You’re the best man in the world, the most beautiful, your huge heart, your kind eyes, your sensitivity, your bravery — you taught me what happiness is.”
Eden wrote that Nitay “fought until the last moment to protect and defend us. You followed your morals and your values to the end and I am proud of you. You were and will remain forever our hero, a pure boy, simply an angel in the shape of a man… we planned a whole life together, we planned every moment, we talked about finishing the army, marrying and setting up a modest and small home… Our love is endless and indescribable.”
On what would have been Nitay’s 23rd birthday, his mother, Revital, wrote on Instagram: “Today is Nitay’s birthday, but he has not aged another year. He remains 22, and the pain again wounds the body and pierces the heart.”
“Nitay my love, nine months I carried you inside me, and now nine months I have been carrying you in my heart,” she added. “On your birthday I wish for myself that I will find more success in the world of joy, and even when I visit the world of sadness, I won’t stay there too long, just drop in for a moment, and return.”
