‘Nothing prepares a mother for the knock at the door’: Families mourn deaths of three soldiers

Captain Amir Saad, 22, from Druze village Yanuh-Jat, Sergeant Inon Nuriel Vana, 20, from Kiryat Tivon, and Master Sergeant Betzalel Yehoshua Mosbacher, 32, from Avnei Eitan, were killed in Gaza.

Israeli officials and family members reacted on Sunday to the deaths of three IDF soldiers, all killed in the Gaza Strip, over the weekend.

Captain Amir Saad, 22, from Druze village Yanuh-Jat, Sergeant Inon Nuriel Vana, 20, from Kiryat Tivon, and Master Sergeant Betzalel Yehoshua Mosbacher, 32, from Avnei Eitan, were killed over the weekend, with the IDF announcing their deaths on Saturday evening and Sunday morning.

Saad’s family, members of Israel’s Druze community, said in a statement on Saturday, “This evening, our family lost what is most dear to us. With deep sorrow and indescribable pain, we announce the death of our beloved, Captain Amir Abdallah Saad, who fell during his service and a battalion mission in Khan Yunis, Gaza, as part of Operation Swords of Iron.”

“Amir is the second fallen soldier from our family in this difficult and accursed war — a cousin of Lt.-Col. Alim Saad, who fell at the beginning of the war. A combat officer, beloved son, brother, and grandson, who went out to defend the state and the people — and did not return.”

Nava Nuriel, the mother of Sergeant Inon Nuriel Vana, wrote in a post to Facebook on Sunday morning, “For two days now, I’ve known deep inside that you would come to me. I’ve been preparing myself for the worst, wondering how I’ll cope, what I’ll do. For two days, I’ve felt it — and pushed it away. But nothing prepares a mother for the knock at the door.”

“My little Yinon. My beloved. The whole world is crying for you now, and I find myself asking for forgiveness — for not holding you tightly enough the last time. Then came the knock at the door: “We won’t leave you. We are here for you.” And in that moment, I disappeared into the abyss. Now, all I can do is begin the long climb out,” Nuriel wrote.

“With deepest sorrow, we announce our joining of the family no one wishes to join — the family of the bereaved. Our Yinon is gone.”

Israeli officials mourn fallen soldiers

Defense Minister Israel Katz wrote in a post to X/Twitter, “We bow our heads in great sorrow for the loss of our heroic fighters: Captain Amir Saad, an officer in the Golani Reconnaissance Unit, Sergeant Yinon Nuriel Vana, a fighter in the Golani Reconnaissance Unit, and Master Sergeant (Res.) Betzalel Yehoshua Masbacher, a fighter in the 749th Combat Engineering Battalion, succumbed to his severe injuries about a week after being wounded in battle in the Gaza Strip.”

“The State of Israel has lost three heroic young men, among its finest sons, who acted for the security of the state and for the return of all our hostages.”

Opposition chief and chairman of Yesh Atid, MK Yair Lapid, wrote, “Three warriors, three of our finest sons, and all our hearts are broken. Master Sergeant (Res.) Betzalel Yehoshua Masbaker, 32, from Avnei Eitan, Captain Amir Saad, 22, from Yanuh-Jat, Technology and Maintenance Officer in the Golani Reconnaissance Unit, Sergeant Yinon Nuriel Vana, 20, from Kiryat Tivon, Technology and Maintenance Fighter in the Golani Reconnaissance Unit.”

“I send my condolences to the families in their difficult time. May their memory be a blessing,” Lapid said.