Father recalls last message from Nove Habsush an hour before his death in Lebanon

The father of Sgt. Nove Habsush said he received his son’s final text at 11:15 p.m., about an hour before Habsush was killed in Lebanon along with his tank crew from Battalion 52. He said Nove asked how he was doing and said there was a chance he would come home the following Sunday, adding, “Don’t tell Mom, so she won’t be disappointed if I don’t end up coming out.”

Speaking on 103FM on June 21, 2026, the grieving father described his son as “a sweet, quiet, humble, calm, forgiving boy who loved everyone,” and said Nove always thought of others first. “Today we are able to understand what an angel walked among us,” he said.

After Nove’s death, the family found writings that reflected his sense of mission and belief in military service. In one note, he wrote, “I am going to serve with immense joy, no matter where I end up.” The father said his son wanted to contribute and have the greatest possible impact, מתוך an awareness of the importance of military service and the belief that “we came into the world for such missions.”

The father also found his son’s WhatsApp status after his death. It read, “Do not cry that it is over, smile that it happened.” He said Nove did not die in vain, but so that Israelis could continue to live, flourish, stand tall and remain united. “I do not want people to lower their heads, I want them to be proud of what we have,” he said, adding, “What kind of person writes such things? An enormous person.”