Idan Amedi, actor wounded in Gaza, turns down Independence Day torchlighter role

Entertainer and wounded soldier Idan Amedi has turned down an offer to light a ceremonial torch at the main state ceremony marking the start of Independence Day, saying others deserve to be honored for heroism on and after October 7.

Amedi, a singer and actor on hit show “Fauda,” was badly burned in an explosion on January 8 as he served as a commander in the Combat Engineering Corps reserves in Gaza. Six soldiers were killed in the incident, which was apparently accidentally caused by troops.

Amedi says he was approached about lighting a torch for the ceremony under the banner of “Israeli heroism,” but has chosen to turn down the opportunity.

“There’s no greater honor but unfortunately I cannot accept the honor this year,” he writes on Instagram. “So many heroes were discovered on that same black Shabbat. Some were my troops in the past or in the current war.”

“This year I’ll stay home and commune with their memory, like many others in the nation of Israel,” he writes. “I hope perhaps in the future I will be granted the merit to raise a torch thanks to the words I write and not due to war heroism.”

He writes that one day he will write about his experiences in the war, and harbors no regrets over his decision to join the fighting.

Upon his release from a hospital last month, he said he hoped to return to his former career as an entertainer.

An official committee chooses 12 individuals to honor by lighting torches at the annual Mount Herzl ceremony marking the transition from Memorial Day to Independence Day, which will take place on May 13 this year.