Fallen Soldier’s Last Stand: Master Sgt. Abraham Azulay’s Death Reverberates Across Israel Amid Renewed Gaza Offensive

By: Fern Sidman

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed Wednesday that Master Sgt. (res.) Abraham Azulay, a 25-year-old combat engineering reservist from the settlement of Yitzhar in Samaria, was killed during a thwarted abduction attempt by Hamas terrorists in the southern Gaza Strip. The incident, which occurred near Khan Younis, underscores the ongoing brutality of the war and the deeply personal losses that continue to mark Israel’s long and bitter conflict with Hamas.

According to an article that appeared on Thursday in The Times of Israel, the attackers emerged from a concealed tunnel and ambushed Israeli troops positioned in the sector. Azulay, who had been operating a heavy excavator for engineering purposes, was targeted in the assault. In what military officials later described as an act of fierce resistance, Azulay struggled with the terrorists before being fatally shot. Hamas operatives then attempted to drag his body into the tunnel but were repelled by nearby Israeli troops, who opened fire and prevented the abduction.

The IDF later confirmed that Azulay’s weapon was seized during the attack—an action Hamas’s military wing openly acknowledged in a chilling statement released Wednesday, claiming field conditions had prevented the successful capture of a live soldier.

Azulay, recently married and only 25, had served in the IDF’s Paratroopers Brigade during his regular service and was later transferred to the 769th “Hiram” Regional Brigade, as was reported by The Times of Israel. He returned to reserves after a brief disciplinary demotion, and in June was assigned to support the IDF’s combat engineering operations in Gaza.

In recognition of his valor, Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, with authorization from Defense Minister Israel Katz, posthumously reinstated and elevated Azulay’s rank. “He was killed in the face of an enemy while sacrificing his life,” the IDF said solemnly in a statement shared by The Times of Israel.

Azulay’s death comes amid a wider military escalation in both the southern and northern sectors of Gaza. As The Times of Israel reported, the IDF is digging in around Khan Younis while simultaneously expanding its offensive into the northern Gaza Strip, particularly in the Hamas-dominated city of Beit Hanoun.

Troops from the Givati Brigade, working alongside the 99th Division, have been deployed to encircle Beit Hanoun, with the stated objective of locating and neutralizing Hamas infrastructure and personnel hidden in the vast tunnel network believed to crisscross the area.

“The forces are operating to destroy terror infrastructure, eliminate terrorists and destroy Hamas’s military capabilities in the area,” the IDF said, adding that dozens of Hamas operatives were suspected to be embedded within the region’s subterranean systems.

Earlier this week, five IDF soldiers were killed and 14 more wounded in a complex Hamas ambush involving a series of remotely detonated explosive devices followed by gunfire—a grim reminder of the lethal sophistication Hamas continues to demonstrate, according to the information provided in The Times of Israel report.

Later Wednesday, the IDF confirmed that a soldier with the 7th Armored Brigade’s 77th Battalion had been seriously wounded in the ongoing northern Gaza campaign. He was evacuated for urgent medical treatment.

The military escalation followed closely on the heels of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, where he met with President Donald Trump for the second time in four days. Despite growing international pressure—including from the U.S.—to reach a ceasefire agreement with Hamas in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages, no concrete breakthrough was announced during the trip.

According to The Times of Israel report, Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff has expressed optimism about progress in proximity talks held in Doha, saying three of the four major sticking points have been resolved. However, the assessment from Egyptian and Qatari mediators remains more pessimistic, with unnamed sources indicating that “significant gaps” still prevent the finalization of a deal.

Witkoff delayed his planned trip to Doha on Tuesday, a signal to The Times of Israel sources that negotiators are still far from agreement. Netanyahu is expected to return to Israel on Thursday, amid an atmosphere of diplomatic uncertainty and military acceleration.

Nevertheless, IDF Chief of Staff Zamir suggested during a National Security College graduation ceremony that Israel’s ongoing operation—dubbed Operation Gideon’s Chariots—may in fact be enhancing the likelihood of a hostage release.

“Thanks to the operational strength we demonstrated, the conditions to advance a deal for the release of hostages have been created,” Zamir asserted.

In Israel, Azulay’s death has become emblematic of the extraordinary sacrifices made by ordinary soldiers in the current war. Married just three months ago, the young reservist’s journey from disciplinary punishment to battlefield heroism struck a particularly poignant chord with Israelis. His death—violent, brutal, and tragically avoidable—has reignited debates about the dangers faced by IDF soldiers operating in Hamas-controlled territory.

His posthumous promotion not only restores his rank, but also serves as a symbolic gesture to honor his courage and personal redemption. According to the report in The Times of Israel, Azulay’s name now joins the long list of Israelis who have fallen in defense of their homeland.

In the words of Lt. Gen. Zamir: “If you act, you might need to act again. But if you don’t act, you will die.”

As Israeli forces consolidate their gains in Gaza and prepare for deeper operations into Hamas strongholds, Azulay’s death offers a solemn reminder of the human toll paid in pursuit of national security and regional stability.

While the path to peace remains murky, the story of Abraham Azulay—his sacrifice, his bravery, and his final struggle against terrorists seeking to drag him into darkness—resonates powerfully as a testament to the IDF’s resilience and the high cost of preserving the Jewish state.