In a heartbreaking incident, lifelong friends Yosef Dassa and Daniel Levy, both 19-years-old, were killed in action on Friday morning in Gaza City's Zeitoun district. The two sergeants, classmates at ORT Kiryat Motzkin High School, enlisted together in the IDF and had recently completed their basic training.

Dassa, hailing from Kiryat Bialik, and Levy, from Kiryat Motzkin, were on their way to a school complex hosting numerous terrorists when they were struck by a booby-trapped site in an alley. The incident resulted in two powerful explosions, taking the lives of the inseparable friends and two other soldiers from the Nahal Brigade's 931st Battalion.

Their high school principal, Sara Pinto, expressed deep sorrow, emphasizing the strong bond shared by Dassa and Levy. She recalled how the two friends had been inseparable since elementary school, always by each other's side. The news of Levy's death prompted concerns for Dassa's wellbeing, as they were known to be together. The tragedy comes as a shock, especially on the eve of Memorial Day.

During a memorial ceremony prior to the incident, the school mourned the loss of two other graduates who fell previously. The loss of Dassa and Levy has only added to the heartbreak experienced by the school community. Yifat Twito, their class teacher, tearfully shared the pain felt by their classmates, describing the two friends as always being together on trips, in studies, and in their military service.

The casualties extend beyond Dassa and Levy, as two other soldiers from the 931st Battalion were severely wounded in the blast. Sergeant Itay Livny from Ramat Hasharon, known for his gentle manners and profound thinking, was among those injured. Another wounded soldier was an officer. The names of the injured soldiers have not been released, but their families have been informed.

Furthermore, in a separate incident in the southern Gaza Strip, two soldiers from the 401st Brigade's 9th Battalion were gravely wounded when an anti-tank missile struck their tank. They have been transferred to a hospital for medical treatment, and their families have been notified.

The loss of Yosef Dassa and Daniel Levy has sent shockwaves through their school community and the State of Israel. Their lifelong friendship and dedication to serving their country will be remembered and cherished. As the nation mourns, attention shifts to the wounded soldiers, hoping for their swift recovery and the safety of all IDF forces involved in ongoing operations.