Gil Avital, 56: Dad of 3 who was ‘the first to jump into action’

Gil Avital, 56, from the town of Yesha, was killed on October 7 while fighting the Hamas invasion of southern Israel.

When the rocket fire began, Gil and his family went to their reinforced room, but as a member of the community’s local security team, Gil was summoned to battle the Hamas invasion. He put on his vest and helmet and headed out the door to meet up with Lior Ben Yaakov, the only other member of the team present in the town that day.

Gil, Lior and an off-duty soldier from Yesha, Staff Sgt. Itay Nachmias, headed to the entrance of the town and met up with the local security team from the neighboring Mitvahim moshav, and began to battle the Hamas gunmen who were attempted to attack the towns. There Gil, Lior and Itay were slain alongside Tal Maman and Dan Asulin, but succeeded in preventing the terrorists from entering the towns.

A member of his community’s local security team, Gil was posthumously recognized as a fallen solder with the rank of sergeant major in the reserves. He was buried on October 15 in Tzohar, following a funeral in Even Yehuda. He is survived by his wife, Racheli, their three children, Nitzan, Raz and Omer, his parents, Aliza and Eli, and his four siblings, Avi, Benny, Orit and Michal.

“As the head of the local security team for 30 years, I feel some sort of guilt that Gili followed in my footsteps,” his father, Eli, told the Kan public broadcaster. “My son is really a hero, a hero who saved this whole area and all of our families including his children.”

His son, Omer, told Channel 12 news that “anyone who knows him — that’s my dad, the first to jump into action, the first to come and defend and and not give up. If there’s something that can give a little sense of pride, it’s that he went out and protected our lives, and we’re here and the whole town is here because of my dad, and Itay and Lior, and everyone in Mivtahim. It fills me with pride, but nobody will bring my dad back.”

Gil’s nephew, Dolev, wrote on Instagram that he “was a beloved family man, funny, sharp and charismatic who touched so many people on a personal level. He was a person who you could rely on with your eyes closed and someone who made you feel comfortable talking to him about any problem or topic.”

His son, Raz, wrote on Facebook marking a year since he was killed, “a year with a hole in my stomach, pain that can’t be healed that just changes shape as time passes.”

“Dad, I feel you with me every moment, in the best moments and in the hardest, when the pain and longing overwhelm me, and in moments of joy and uncontrollable laughter… you’re with me everywhere, guiding me every step of the way. But the truth is I feel your absence so much, a phone call, good advice, your concern or just saying that I’m a jerk for not sending photos or calling.”

“I hope you will keep visiting me in my dreams at every step — we’ll meet again Dad, I’m sure of it.”

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