Sgt. Amit Tsur, 19: Golani soldier viewed ‘every day as a holiday’

Sgt. Amit Tsur, 19, a soldier in the Golani Brigade, from Elyachin, was killed on October 7 battling the Hamas invasion of southern Israel.

He was stationed that morning at the small Erez outpost next to the northern Gaza border. Amit and his commander, Cpt. Itay Maor, his comrade and close friend Sgt. Uri Locker and another soldier, David, were out on a routine patrol near the border that morning in a jeep when the attack began.

The four of them battled Hamas invaders near Netiv Ha’asara, managing to kill some of the gunmen, until Amit, Itay and Uri were slain in battle — and only David survived.

Amit was buried in Elyachin on October 10. He is survived by his parents, Liora and Eyal, and his older siblings Rotem and Yarden.

The youngest in his family, Amit was born and raised in Elyachin, a small town near Hadera. He was remembered for his cynical sense of humor and his love of playing soccer, according to an online eulogy.

Amit was also very musically inclined, and he loved to sing and would also record songs, including one dedicated to his mother.

After graduating high school, he enlisted in the IDF in August 2022, insistent on serving in the Golani Brigade – and he achieved his goal. He completed his “beret march” with a stuffed monkey attached to his pack – and since his death his comrades have kept a similar monkey with them in memorial.

“Everyone who knew you knew how much joy you had, how much you loved to take advantage of every moment in life, every day for you was a holiday,” his mother, Liora, wrote on Instagram.

“We were so close, that I knew everything about you, but regardless I am continuously hearing new stories about you, which inspire me,” she added.

Liora said she and the family have been working tirelessly to memorialize Amit and tell his story, “about your brave actions and of course your admirable personality. I love you my dear son, you will always be engraved and preserved in my heart. We will continue to spread your light!”

His father, Eyal, told a local Hadera news outlet that Amit’s “presence is so missed, I miss everything about him. He was a social guy, an opinionated person who achieved everything he wanted but in a pleasant way.”

Eyal said when he would try to give Amit advice, “he’d always say to me, ‘Dad, don’t you trust me?’ When he would come home from the army he was exhausted but he’d always go get a haircut and then go immediately out to his friends. Friendship was of the highest importance to him.”

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