Thousands Attend Funeral of Captain David Hazut, IDF Confirms Terrorist Killed in Clash

Approximately two thousand people attended the funeral of Captain David Hazut at the Ashkelon cemetery on Sunday. Family and friends mourned the fallen officer, with his aunt Moran Feirtag describing him in an interview as "our hero and now the hero of all Israel." She recalled David as a blond boy with a captivating smile, embodying values of respect, generosity, and compassion, always attentive to others' needs.

David, who lost his father at 16 and was an only child to his mother, chose to serve in a combat role despite the option to avoid it. His mother initially opposed his combat enlistment, but David was determined, excelling in pre-military preparation and choosing to join the Golani Brigade. After completing a squad leader course, he advanced to officer training. His aunt shared that although David recently spoke about the difficulties of serving in Lebanon, he never complained and was deeply committed to protecting Israel, often reassuring his family by saying, "I am protecting you."

David's mother, Galit, expressed her grief, recalling a recent conversation where David acknowledged the dangers he faced but urged her to continue living strongly if anything happened to him. She also noted that although David's father did not live to say the Kaddish prayer for him, he would now welcome him with open arms.

The IDF confirmed that the terrorist involved in the clash during which Captain Hazut was killed was eliminated overnight. After extensive searches, the assailant was located in a nearby building and neutralized by Israeli forces.