Hundreds Attend Funeral of Benyahu Malt, IDF Soldier Killed in West Bank Attack

Hundreds gathered on Friday afternoon to mourn Staff Sergeant Benyahu Malt, a member of the security team at the Gilad Farm, who was killed in a terror attack earlier that day. The attack also claimed the life of Lieutenant Colonel Yuval Ezra, an artillery company commander. Malt leaves behind a wife and two daughters.

During the funeral, Malt's wife, Esther, delivered a heartfelt eulogy, recalling their 14 years together and praising his bravery and dedication. She said, "You always jumped first to every place and returned last from every event. This time, you did not come back at all." She noted that Malt was deeply concerned with the land and people of Israel, having been involved that morning in efforts to establish two new settlement points before being called to the scene of the attack. Esther expressed some consolation that he received military recognition posthumously for defending those in need.

Malt was buried next to Rabbi Raziel Shevah, who was also killed in a terror attack in 2018 near Gilad Farm. Esther highlighted the poignant connection between the two, both aged 32 at their deaths. Malt's mother, Segula, recounted that he had been targeted by gunfire even as a child during the establishment of the Adi Ad settlement, emphasizing his lifelong exposure to conflict. His father, Boaz Malt, described him as a beloved son who loved the land and was familiar with the entire Samaria region.

The funeral was attended by ministers and Knesset members, including Orit Struck, Ze'ev Elkin, Amit Halevi, and Limor Son Har-Melech. Boaz Malt used the occasion to call for the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority, labeling it a terrorist organization committed to Israel's destruction. He urged the government to seize the moment to act decisively, rejecting territorial compromises and advocating for settlement expansion throughout all parts of the Land of Israel, including Gaza and areas liberated from Lebanon.