Israeli Flags Vandalized Near Grave of Fallen Soldier Regev Amar in Northern Israel

In a disturbing incident near Nahal Hermon by Kibbutz Sde Nehemia, unknown individuals vandalized Israeli flags placed beside the grave of Staff Sergeant Regev Amar, a soldier who fell in combat on October 7 during the battle at Kibbutz Kissufim. This marks the second time within a week that the flags surrounding his grave have been damaged, according to his family.

Regev Amar, who was buried in Sde Nehemia cemetery close to the stream he loved, was a 20-year-old paratrooper in Battalion 101 of the Paratroopers Brigade. On the morning of October 7, as Hamas launched its attack, his unit was deployed to the Gaza border area. During intense fighting, Amar was severely wounded but continued to lead his comrades calmly until he succumbed after a grenade was thrown at him. He was posthumously promoted to Staff Sergeant and is survived by his parents and two sisters.

His mother, Gilanit Amar, expressed deep pain over the desecration of the flags at her son's grave, emphasizing the family's choice to bury him near the stream he cherished. The cemetery is adjacent to a path frequented by hikers and cyclists, where visitors have also been leaving trash and relieving themselves in the bushes due to a lack of nearby restrooms, despite trash bins placed by the Upper Galilee Regional Council.

To honor Regev's memory and values of love for the land, nature conservation, and community volunteering, his family established "Regev's Way," a branch of the Upper Galilee pre-military academy in Sde Nehemia. The incident highlights ongoing tensions and disrespect even at sites commemorating fallen soldiers.