Just one week after Lieutenant Yiftach Shrier was killed in a battle near the Lebanese village of Maroun al-Ras, the parents of his good friend Lieutenant Ilan Gabai received word that their son was killed in Tuesday’s fighting in the Lebanese village of Aita al-Shaab.
The commander of Yiftach and Ilan’s battalion, the 101st, was the one who informed both families of their losses.
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“Last Saturday Ilan consoled Yiftach’s parents,” said Lieutenant Colonel Itzik Bar, commander of the Paratroopers Brigade training base.
Ilan served as a platoon commander in 101st Battalion’s reconnaissance company. Friends who arrived at the Gabai family home in Tivon on Tuesday said Ilan had a hard time coming to terms with Yiftach’s death. Ilan’s parents visited the Shrier home in Haifa last week, and Ilan himself paid a visit to Yiftach’s parents last Saturday while on leave.
In his childhood Ilan suffered from severe asthma. Despite his health problems, he excelled in basketball and later, when he joined the Paratroopers Brigade he overcome the medical obstacle and was chosen to attend an Officers’ Course.
In a booklet print at the end of his company’s basic training, his friends wrote to him: “You are a commander who constitutes an exemplary model for your soldiers. You taught us things that will remain with us always. You taught us how to stick with our mission and strive for victory. You were the most devoted platoon commander ever.”
Ilan was survived by his three siblings Alon, Ella and Eyal, and his parents Batya and Aharon. Ilan will be laid to rest at the Kiryat Tivon Cemetery Wednesday.
‘In their lives and in their deaths they never separated’
The Shrier family of Haifa, whose son Yiftach was killed last week, were shocked and pained to receive news of Ilan’s death. Their son Yiftah and Ilan went through the military together and became best friends.
Lt. Yiftach’s twin brother, Yarden, found it difficult to express his feelings upon hearing the news, and just said, “In their lives and in their deaths they never separated. The were together for the whole track, starting from basic training until the Officers’ Course and they served in the same battalion. Ilan was here Saturday night to console us. He was here, sat here in our house and suffered with us over Yiftah’s death.”
The mother, Yafa, said that when Ilan came to their home while the battles were still raging, he told her that he regretted more than anything not being able to attend Yiftach’s funeral. “He invited me to spend time with him after this war was over,” she said, her eyes brimming with tears.
Ahiya Raved contributed to the report
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