The burden of war: MK Gadi Eisenkot, former IDF chief, loses third relative in Gaza War

Knesset Member Gadi Eisenkot, a senior member of Benny Gantz’s National Unity party, on Sunday afternoon received the bitter news that a third close family member was killed fighting in Gaza. 

Eisenkot, who along with Benny Gantz and Gideon Sa’ar had joined the emergency government shortly after the start of the Gaza War in October of last year, already lost his son, Gal Eisenkot, during fighting in Jabaliya on December 7, 2023. 

Two days later, on December 9, Maor Cohen Eisenkot, the son of Gadi’s sister Sharon, was also killed during fighting in Gaza. 

Now, almost a year later, a third family member, Cpt. Yogev Pazy, 22, the son of Hannah, another sister of Eisenkot, was killed during fighting with Hamas near Jabaliya, in Beit Lahiya, while serving as a platoon commander with the Kfir Brigade’s Nahshon Battalion.

In August, on what would have been the birthday of his cousin, Gal, Yogev Pazy received a tattoo based on a childhood picture of him and Gal together. 

אחרי שבן דודו, גל איזנקוט, נהרג בקרב בג׳באליה - יוגב פזי קעקע את תמונת הילדות הזאת של שניהם על היד שלו.
היום גם יוגב נהרג בג׳באליה pic.twitter.com/i7zNjcsHi7

— Carmel Dangor כרמל דנגור (@carmeldangor) November 17, 2024

In a Facebook post that day, Pazy wrote: “8 months and 3 days. But today is a day without sad speeches. Today is your birthday. So instead, I will send several thanks and memories.” 

In the post, he uploaded several pictures of Gal, or of the two of them together from different periods of their lives. 

“Thank you for all the help before and during the recruitment process, the advice, the encouragement, the guidance and the concern,” Pazy wrote. “Thank you for the fights in childhood, the laughter, the love, the concern, the care, the wisdom, the giving. How lucky I am to have someone who is so hard for me to say goodbye to.” 

Israeli politicians were quick to send condolences to the family of Gadi Eisenkot. 

Benny Gantz posted a message on 𝕏 shortly after the news broke, “The heart aches for two heroes who fell today in the Gaza Strip. Beloved Hannah, Gadi and the Pazy family, my heart is with you in these difficult times.” 

Defense Minister Israel Katz also posted a note of condolence to social media. 

“We bow our heads in deep pain and sorrow for the death of Capt. Yogev Pazy and the late Sgt. Noam Eitan, our heroes who sacrificed their lives to protect the homeland,” Katz wrote.

“My heart goes out to the families who lost their dearest of all and to my friend Gadi Eisenkot, who lost his son and nephew in the war and now another nephew is added. For their sake and in their memory we will continue to act resolutely for the security of our country. May their memory be blessed.” 

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir wrote on 𝕏: “Condolences from the bottom of my heart and a big hug to the family members of MK Gadi Eisenkot on the death of his nephew, Capt. Yogev Pazy, may God avenge his blood, a third disaster that has befallen his family, who are paying a heavy and painful price."

"Also to the family of Sergeant Noam Eitan of Hadera, may God avenge his blood, who fell defending the homeland in the battles in the Gaza Strip. Heroes of Israel. May their memory be blessed.” 

The number of soldiers killed in ground operations in the Gaza Strip now stands at 378.