12:37 p.m. ET, December 7, 2023
Son of Israeli minister killed in Gaza, IDF announces
Gadi Eisenkot and his son Gal Meir Eisenkot are seen in this undated photo.
Obtained by CNN
“Master sergeant (Res.) Gal Meir Eisenkot, 25 from Herlizya, combat soldier in the 699th Battalion of the 551st reserve commando Brigade, died in battle in the northern Gaza Strip,” the IDF said in a statement.
His father was chief of the General Staff of the IDF from February 2015 to January 2018, and served in the military for four decades.
In the wake of the October 7 attacks, he joined the wartime cabinet as a minister without portfolio. He is a member of Benny Gantz’s National Unity Party, and was elected to Knesset in 2022.
A total of 88 IDF soldiers have been killed in Gaza since October 7.
“The government of Israel and the citizens of Israel mourn together with you. Our heroes did not fall in vain. We will continue to fight until victory,” Netanyahu said.
Israel war cabinet member and former Defense Minister Benny Gantz also paid his tribute, saying in a statement: “May the memory of Gal and the memory of all those who fell in the battle for the home of all of us be blessed. Also in his name, also in their name, we continue the mission.”
Correction: This post has been updated to reflect Gal Meir Eisenkot’s rank is master sergeant, not first sergeant.
David Turner is a globe-trotting journalist who brings a global perspective to our readers. With a commitment to shedding light on international events, he explores complex geopolitical issues, offering a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
