Those we have lost

Sgt. Maj. Salman Eben Marei, 41: Bedouin tracker and father of 7

Killed battling the Hamas attack on the Sufa IDF outpost on October 7

By ToI Staff 2 February 2025, 9:08 pm Edit

Sgt. Maj. Salman Eben Marei (Courtesy)

Sgt. Maj. Salman Eben Marei, 41, a tracker in the Gaza Division, was killed on October 7 while battling the Hamas invasion of southern Israel.

Salman hailed from the Bedouin town of Segev Shalom, also known as Shaqib al-Salam, in the south. He was killed when Hamas attacked the Sufa IDF outpost across from southern Gaza, according to a memorial page.

Salman was buried in Beersheba on October 11. He is survived by his wife, Najah, their seven children, Malek, Ayat, Lamis, Habiba, Ritaj, Salama and Nur, his father, Salama and his 10 siblings. He was predeceased by his mother, Haseena.

In February 2024, then-defense minister Yoav Gallant paid a condolence call to the Eben Marei family. He said Salman was killed “while fighting against dozens of Hamas terrorists.”

“Salman was a dedicated family man, he made sure to take care of his grandmother, mother, siblings and children alongside his demanding military service,” added Gallant.

Writing on a Ynet memorial page, relative Qaid Eben Marei wrote that Salman “is a beloved person, smiling, everyone loved him and he loved everyone, he was brave and he fought with honor at the IDF base.”