Mother Recounts Son's Final Moments and Heroism on October 7th
Translated & summarized from Walla by baba
Dina Gidalia recounted the final moments of her son, fallen soldier Yosef Malachi, who was killed in Kfar Aza on October 7th. A video shows him rescuing a civilian, and later, a drone spotted terrorists dragging his body, identifiable by his tzitzit, preventing a potential abduction. Months later, a soldier revealed Yosef had charged terrorists alone, saving his unit before being killed. His mother finds strength in her faith and the belief that he is spiritually alive.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Soldier Yosef Malachi was killed in Kfar Aza on October 7th while rescuing civilians.
- A drone spotted terrorists dragging his body, identifiable by his tzitzit, preventing abduction.
- A fellow soldier revealed Yosef charged terrorists alone, saving lives before his death.
- Yosef served in the elite Duvdevan unit and was known for his devotion.
- His mother finds strength in faith and the belief that he is spiritually alive.
Dina Gidalia shared a video showing her son, fallen soldier Yosef Malachi, rescuing an injured civilian during the Hamas attack on Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7th. The footage, captured by a police officer's body camera, depicts Yosef and a comrade, Or Yosef Ran, extracting a wounded man from a military vehicle and evacuating him to waiting medics. This act was part of Yosef's continuous efforts for three hours, entering and exiting Kfar Aza, until he was killed.
Yosef, a soldier in the Duvdevan unit specializing in counter-terrorism, was on leave in Jerusalem for the Simchat Torah holiday when the attack began. He rushed to Kfar Aza, where he joined other Duvdevan soldiers. His mother recounted his deep commitment to hastening the redemption and his avoidance of slander, noting that he would often leave conversations if they veered into gossip.
During the intense fighting in Kfar Aza, Yosef and his comrades entered the youth neighborhood, a known area for abductions. Their vehicle was hit by an RPG, causing it to catch fire. Yosef and three others bailed out, but he and Or Yosef Ran went missing. Later, a drone operated by Yosef's unit, whose operation was coordinated due to his prior efforts, spotted Hamas terrorists dragging a body near the kibbutz gate. The visible tzitzit (ritual fringes) on the body confirmed it was an Israeli soldier, preventing a potential abduction.
Months later, a soldier who fought in Kfar Aza contacted Yosef's family, describing how an unknown soldier, armed only with a pistol after his rifle got stuck in a burning vehicle, charged the terrorists and saved their lives before being killed. This soldier was later identified as Yosef. Dina Gidalia spoke of her enduring faith and strength, finding solace in the belief that her son is alive in a spiritual sense, and expressing gratitude for having a burial site, unlike many others still missing.
