Staff Sgt. Roie Elias z”l

Roie, son of Tzipi and Sasson, grew up in Moshav Tsofar in the Arava and served as a lead frontline gunner in the Doher Company, 603rd Battalion, Combat Engineering Corps. He was an outstanding basketball player, active in his community, and loved by all who knew him. He loved the Arava and dreamed of returning to realize the values of building and working the land on which he was raised. An expert in advanced engineering, he was the one to push everyone forward in the toughest moments. He fell in Gaza while leading his friends with devotion and bravery. He was 21 years old when he fell.