Heart of gold: Sgt. Eliav Astuker was the quiet leader who became a hero
Some lives are a lesson in humility, generosity and relentless determination. Sgt. Eliav Astuker, a Nahal Brigade soldier who fell in battle in the Gaza Strip on January 11, 2025 (11 Tevet 5785), lived such a life. At just 20 years old, he left behind a grieving family and a legacy that will endure.
The boy who 'opened the gates' for the sons
Eliav was born into a unique family reality. “He was born after three daughters,” said his father, Yaakov Astuker. “We moved to a new place, and in that new home, I had a son. After him came four more boys. Eliav opened the gates for the sons. He was a sweet, special, lovable, chubby boy.” Eliav was the brother of Ortal, Elinor, Shani and Uriel, and half-brother to Rafael Chaim, Michael Yosef and Gabriel Eitan, his father’s sons from a second marriage.
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His mother, Liat Azoulay, described his silent, expressive gaze that spoke volumes: “The moment you looked into his eyes, you could already see it all, you could see the goodness in him. A quiet, introverted boy who didn’t speak much. Everything was short and to the point.” Hanna, his father’s wife, added wistfully: “Eliav was a quiet child, beloved, special, an angel.”
Quiet leadership and compassion for the weak
Even in school, Eliav’s unique character stood out. His father recalled a conversation with his teacher: “He told me, ‘Your son is the quiet leader of the class.’ He had that kind of soul, he knew how to connect with the weaker kids. He had a special sensitivity for them, the ones who weren’t so popular, and he would come over and embrace them.”
Eliav’s humility ran so deep that he didn’t want his achievements recognized. When he received an excellence certificate for his cybersecurity studies, he asked his teacher to tuck it behind his regular report card so no one would see it. “He didn’t like people knowing,” Yaakov said. “He was the complete opposite. He didn’t like to talk, he liked to do and quietly. Just do and not tell. That was Eliav.”
'You think my friends will be there while I sit at home?'
When the time came to enlist, Eliav was firmly committed to combat service. He had been training at the gym since 11th grade to fulfill his dream of becoming a Negev machine gunner. His mother tried to persuade him to choose a different path, especially with the security situation escalating. She even offered him the car of his dreams, brand new, straight from the dealership, in exchange for giving up a combat role. Charlie Guetta, his mother’s partner, recalled Eliav’s firm response: “‘What do you think? You think my friends will be there fighting and I’ll sit at home? No way. That’s not an option. I’m fighting till the end.’” His mother added that he had sent her a short, decisive text message: “‘No!’—with an exclamation point.”
Eliav enlisted one month after the October 7 massacre. He completed his training as a Negev gunner and Eitan armored personnel carrier operator. When his mother asked if he was afraid to die, he gave a chillingly simple answer: “No.”
The final battle and the half-smile of 'Shema Yisrael'
On the day he was killed, Eliav was headed toward Beit Hanoun and Jabaliya, where a major incident occurred. “There was a small explosion, they thought it was a flat tire, and everyone jumped out. Of course, he was the first one,” Yaakov recalled. As they moved, explosives were detonated against the unit.
Eliav was critically wounded. A tracker accompanying the unit later described his final moments to the family: “He gave a half-smile, said ‘Shema Yisrael,’ and closed his eyes. He died in the helicopter.” It was the kind of news every family dreads. “How do you tell your parents that your son fell in Gaza?” his father said. “That was the hardest part for me.”
The family volunteer and the heart of Ashdod
Eliav was the anchor of the household. “Always thoughtful, always admiring, like a little dad,” said Charlie. His father said that for every household task, from building a sukkah to heavy lifting, Eliav was always the first to volunteer. “A child with a good soul, someone I always trusted, who gave his all.” His sister Hanna added that he was hardworking and gifted in electronics and computers. “Everyone said he was the best,” his mother proudly noted. “He was always the first to show up, always early. I’m proud of him for the person he was, who never said ‘no’ and who honored his parents.”
A legacy in 'Beit Eliav'
Today, his father Yaakov devotes all his time to preserving his son’s memory. In Ashdod’s District Tet, a center named “Beit Eliav” was established to provide shelter for at-risk youth and those with special needs. “I sat with them, and I cried,” Yaakov said. “I said, this fits Eliav perfectly. Like a glove. That was his calling.” Charlie summed up the family’s feelings: “With courage, bravery and determination. And I can say one thing: if Eliav were alive today, he would have gone far.”
Sgt. Eliav Astuker of the Nahal Brigade fell in battle on Jan. 11, 2025 (11 Tevet 5785).
May his memory be a blessing.
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Eliav Astuker