Fallen Soldier Yuval Suilem Mourned After Foiling Major Attack

Sergeant Yuval Shi Suilem, 20, who fell in a Friday shooting attack near Hebron, was laid to rest Sunday in Hod Hasharon. Suilem, a combat soldier in the "Eitan" company of the Home Front Command's Rescue Brigade, was killed alongside Staff Sergeant Major Ron Yonatan Roitman, 23, of Ashkelon, who served as a squad commander in the same unit. Roitman was also buried earlier on Sunday.

Family and friends remembered Suilem as a quiet, kind, and beloved young man who always sought to help others. His company commander, Captain Or, stated that Suilem "managed a combat fight against the terrorists while returning fire and prevented a large and significant attack, and fell in heroic combat." He added that Suilem was a soldier who "always could be approached."

Suilem's parents, Amnon and Sivan, spoke of their pain and grief. His father recounted that Yuval "wanted to save his friend, he had a malfunction in his weapon, and he was hit." He pleaded with the state and security forces to take action against the terrorists' families, demanding their expulsion from Israel, and threatened to take matters into his own hands if the government did not act.

During the exchange of fire, which lasted over 20 minutes, Suilem and Roitman were killed, and three other soldiers were lightly wounded. The two Palestinian terrorists were eliminated by arriving forces. Security officials believe the terrorists were on their way to carry out a larger attack against civilians, and that the soldiers' actions prevented a more severe outcome. In response to the attack, the IDF launched a broad operation in the Hebron area and sealed the homes of the two terrorists for demolition.

Yuval and Ron are the first fallen soldiers from the "Eitan" battalion, established within the last year. The mayor of Hod Hasharon, Amir Kochavi, and Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir attended the funeral and eulogized Suilem.