In one of the most harrowing days of recent combat, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has confirmed that three brave soldiers from the elite Givati Brigade were killed in action during intense battles in northern Gaza on Tuesday. The fallen—Staff Sergeant Lior Steinberg (20) from Petah Tikva, Staff Sergeant Ofek Barhana (20) from Yavne, and Staff Sergeant Omer Van Gelder from Ma'ale Adumim—are being hailed as heroes who gave their lives in the sacred mission of defending the State of Israel and its people.

All three served in the 9th Battalion of the Givati Brigade, an infantry unit currently leading complex operations in Jabalya, a stronghold of Hamas activity. The IDF emphasized that this region is riddled with terrorist infrastructure—both above and below ground—and is a focal point in the mission to dismantle Hamas's operational capacity.

Two of the fallen, Steinberg and Barhana, were combat medics, risking their lives not only in battle but to save others under fire.

A very tough day in Gaza yesterday, we lost 3 of our boys in the fighting around Jabalia.

Sergeant Lior Steinberg Z"L (20), Sergeant Ofek Barhana Z"L (20) and Sergeant Omer Van Gelder Z"L (22) fell in battle.

HYD 🕯️ pic.twitter.com/xHykLmeHeH

— Raylan Givens (@JewishWarrior13) June 4, 2025

In the same deadly confrontation, two additional soldiers were seriously wounded, and nine others sustained moderate and light injuries.

Posthumous Honors and National Mourning

The IDF has posthumously promoted all three soldiers from Sergeant to Staff Sergeant, honoring their valor and ultimate sacrifice. The entire country now mourns their loss, with flags lowered to half-mast and communities from Petah Tikva to Ma'ale Adumim holding vigils and prayer gatherings.

Remembering the Fallen: Words of Grief and Pride

Petah Tikva Mayor Rami Greenberg memorialized Lior Steinberg as “one of the best sons of Petah Tikva—brave, compassionate, and beloved. He went out to protect us all and did not return. We will remember him always, with pride and infinite gratitude.”

Steinberg’s funeral will take place at 6:00 p.m. at the Segula Military Cemetery in Petah Tikva.

Yavne Mayor Roei Gabay eulogized Ofek Barhana, recalling him as a cherished member of the community and a standout athlete with Elitzur Yavne Basketball Club. “Ofek was the pride of Yavne. On behalf of the entire city, I send a comforting embrace to his family. No words can ease such a loss.”

Baruch Dayan HaEmet

This was 20 year old Staff Sergeant Lior Steinberg, a Combat Medic in the 9th Battalion of the Givati Brigade, from Petach Tikva, who was killed in action in Gaza

May his memory be for a blessing pic.twitter.com/kcy4JToOxR

— Documenting Israel (@DocumentIsrael) June 3, 2025

Barhana’s funeral will be held at 4:00 p.m. in the military section of the Yavne cemetery.

Ma’ale Adumim Mayor Guy Yifrach spoke movingly of Omer Van Gelder, who “loved Israel deeply and lived a life of giving. He volunteered from a young age and ultimately gave his life for his people and his land.”

Omer’s funeral will be held at 4:00 p.m. at the military cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, a resting place reserved for Israel’s most honored.

Horrific news : Tears this morning 😢

It can now be published:

The names of 3 IDF Givati brigade soldiers that were killed yesterday in Jabalia, northern Gaza :

- Sgt. Lior Steinberg, 20, from Petah Tikva, combat medic in the Rotem Battalion, 9th Battalion, Givati… pic.twitter.com/Cch5pVkxkB

— Iris (@streetwize) June 3, 2025

His mother, Tehila, shared the unbearable weight of anticipation that had haunted the family since his enlistment:

“Omer enlisted just two months before the war began. Since then, he’s been in continuous combat. We left our door open for 603 days—so the officers wouldn’t have to knock. Yesterday, they came through that open door to deliver the message we had feared most.”

Ongoing Operations and Further Casualties

Elsewhere in the Jabalya combat zone, terrorists launched a brazen attack on a rescue helicopter from elite Unit 669, responsible for extracting wounded soldiers from the battlefield. In this incident, one soldier was seriously wounded, three were moderately injured, and one was lightly hurt.

In the southern Gaza Strip, a flurry of tactical encounters between IDF forces and terrorists resulted in 14 more soldiers being wounded—all moderately or lightly—and most did not require evacuation, underscoring both the intensity of combat and the rapid medical response of the IDF’s field teams.

The Price of Victory

As the IDF continues its relentless campaign to neutralize Hamas’s war machine, the toll on Israel’s finest is painfully clear. The sacrifice of Lior, Ofek, and Omer is a tragic reminder of the heavy price paid to ensure freedom and safety for the Jewish homeland. Their names will be etched in the eternal memory of the nation.

Am Yisrael Chai. We mourn. We remember. We carry on.