Father of Fallen IDF Officer Yoav Ezra Calls for Unity and Increased Love Among Israelis

Yossi Dagan, head of the Shomron Regional Council, and Moshe Hachmon, chairman of the Havat Gilad settlement committee, visited the home of the Ezra family in Beit Dagan to offer condolences following the death of Lieutenant Colonel Yoav Ezra, an artillery officer killed in a heroic battle against a terrorist near Havat Gilad. During the extended meeting with Yoav's parents, his father, Chaim Ezra, urged Dagan to publicly convey a message calling for national unity and increased love among Israelis. He emphasized the need to reduce hatred and tensions, stating, "We are all brothers. When there is hatred, enemies enter. We can be rivals but never enemies." Chaim highlighted his son's dedication to defending the people and the land and stressed the importance of focusing on what unites the nation.

Yossi Dagan described the encounter with the Ezra family as deeply moving and inspiring, underscoring the critical nature of the message in a time when hatred endangers the country. He called love for Israel the most important mission, honoring the memory of fallen heroes like Yoav Ezra who sacrificed their lives for the nation's existence. Dagan also noted the family's nobility, sharing that despite their immense grief, they expressed solidarity with the residents of Havat Gilad and sent condolences to the family of Benyahu Maltz, who was killed in the same attack. Dagan said he came to comfort the family but left strengthened by their exceptional resilience.

Lieutenant Colonel Yoav Ezra and Benyahu Maltz were killed last Friday while defending a group of hikers. At his funeral, family members and his fiancée, Timor, remembered him as a beloved "man of the people" with a constant smile and a kind heart who dedicated his life to others.