Soldier killed during attempted abduction by Hamas named as Abraham Azulay

The Israeli soldier killed during an abduction attempt by Hamas in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis on Wednesday is named as Master Sgt. (res.) Abraham Azulay, 25, a heavy engineering machinery operator in the Southern Command’s combat engineering unit, from the West Bank settlement of Yitzhar.

Azulay had served in the Paratroopers Brigade’s 202nd Battalion during his mandatory army service. In reserves, he was placed in a light infantry battalion in the 769th “Hiram” Regional Brigade.

From the start of the war until March 3, 2024, Azulay served for 66 days in reserves, for which he was promoted to sergeant first class.

Azulay was punished for deserting reserve service afterward, being jailed and demoted to the rank of private.

After the punishment, he returned to reserve duty and served another 201 days.

In June, he was drafted to operate an excavator for engineering operations in the Gaza Strip.

Due to the circumstances of his death, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, with the approval of Defense Minister Israel Katz, returned Azulay his rank before demotion and posthumously promoted him as is tradition with fallen soldiers.

The military says he was awarded the rank of master sergeant “in light of the fact that he was killed in the face of an enemy while sacrificing his life.”