Father of Fallen Israeli Officer Benyahu Malt Honors His Son’s Heroism and Calls for National Awareness

Boaz Malt, father of the late Captain (res.) Benyahu Malt, shared a poignant account of his son's final moments during a deadly terror attack near Givat Gilad. Despite being wounded early in the assault, Benyahu managed to recover, draw his weapon, and fire back at the terrorists, helping to halt the attack. "Knowing he was able to hit the attackers gives us some comfort amid the immense pain," Boaz said in an exclusive interview with Channel 7.

Boaz Malt criticized public discourse that blamed the group of hikers present at the scene, clarifying that they were a seasoned group who did not seek confrontation and refrained from drawing weapons, trusting the military to handle the situation. He also described the bond formed between his family and that of Major Yuval Ezra, who was also killed in the same attack, noting plans to establish a joint memorial vineyard and site at the attack location.

Highlighting a broader lesson, Malt emphasized that Israeli society still struggles to grasp the nature of the conflict in Judea and Samaria. He explained that Benyahu had spent years gathering intelligence on Palestinian Authority activities and sought to educate the public about the organized enemy they face, rather than a local dispute. Malt called for a reassessment of the rules of engagement, expressing his belief that the tragedy could have been prevented if soldiers were less fearful of repercussions when opening fire.

Reflecting on his son’s character, Boaz described Benyahu as deeply committed to his country and people, who overcame personal challenges to serve with distinction and viewed military service as a national duty. Benyahu also continued his family’s legacy of settlement in the region, driven by personal initiative and responsibility rather than waiting for official directives.

Boaz concluded by expressing his enduring grief and the difficulty of accepting his son’s death, while holding onto Benyahu’s legacy of love for the land and people, commitment to truth, respect for others, and the determination to build life even amid profound loss.