IDF reported on Monday that Sergeant First Class (res.) Amichai Yisrael Yehoshua Oster was killed in northern Gaza on Monday. Four others were badly hurt.
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Oster, 24, from the West Bank settlement of Karnei Shomron, was traveling in the U.S. when the war broke out. He immediately cut his trip short to return to Israel, determined to join the war effort.
Oster is the son of Dr. Howard Oster, deputy director of the Internal Medicine Division at Sourasky Medical Center, and Marcy Spiegel Oster, an editor at Ynetnews. Amichai left behind three sisters, Sarah, Emunah and Tova, and a brother named Jonathan, who is a soldier in southern Israel.
His friend Adi said that Oster would volunteer at an organization for children with special needs. "Baruch Dayan Emet. It's truly sad. Amichai, we will miss your light." His friend Lidor wrote, "Dear and beloved brother, I still can't believe it. Watch over us from above."
Igal Lahav, head of the Karnei Shomron Council, eulogized him. "When we speak of incredible, Zionist and value-driven youth who would leave everything behind and rush into the fire to defend the country, we are talking about young people like Amichai." Lahav described Oster as "a charming, intelligent and smiling young man who would do anything for his country."
The Israeli Association for Internal Medicine also mourned. "Terrible news, Amichai, the son of Dr. Howard Oster, the deputy director of the Internal Medicine Division at Ichilov and a member of the association, was killed in Gaza. Our hearts are with the grieving family. May his soul rest in peace."