IDF Captain Ido Voloch killed in battle on Friday becomes 850th fallen soldier since beginning of war

Captain Ido Voloch (21) from Jerusalem, fell on Friday during an encounter with terrorists in the northern Gaza Strip, becoming the 850th soldier in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) killed since the beginning of the war.

His brother, Ori, shared this morning (Sunday) in an interview with Aryeh Golan on the "Boker HaZeh" program on Kan Reshet B about the tank soldier who followed in his father's footsteps and became an officer and platoon commander, giving his all until the very last moment.

"It was hard for him at first to enlist in the Armored Corps when all his friends around him wanted to go to special forces. But he was an Armored Corps soldier; he followed in his father's footsteps, and no one understood why," his brother Ori said. "He enjoyed the profession, working with tanks, and the good people in the corps. In his first role, he was a gunner in a tank and took up a position right near Gaza."

Ido only received his rank last week. "They held a military ceremony without families in the Gaza area, and we received a video of him receiving his rank. And as we understand it, within two days, he was promoted again," his brother shared with pain. He asked to read a text Ori Voloch wrote about six months ago, when he was in the officer's course. In the text, he also mentioned his friends who fell during the "Iron Swords" War.

"Thank you for the privilege of starting to command a tank platoon now, which is more needed than ever. I dedicate this choice to the memory of Ido Testa, Itai Fogel, Ophir Barkovitz, and Barak Segen, may their memories be a blessing – my dear friends who are no longer here, and to all the other heroes who are no longer with us and risked their lives so that we can live here. I am proud to take part in the responsibility for this country and ensure its continued existence."

Even during the difficult times of the war, with his comrades in the field, Ido didn’t give up his habits. "Food was an inseparable part of his life – his day revolved around food," Ori shared. "In the army, he would cook for his buddies in Gaza, and when he could, he would take photos and send them."

Ido was also a die-hard fan of Hapoel Jerusalem. "One of my childhood memories is that Ido and I would sit on Dad's knees in Malcha, Hapoel's basketball arena. It was an inseparable part of his life. He also played basketball and soccer for Hapoel. He was a real athlete."

On Friday, Ido fell during a clash with terrorists in the northern Gaza Strip at the age of just 21. Terrorists who fired an RPG at a tank in Battalion 46, where Ido served as platoon commander, managed to hit the force. As a result, Ido fell, and another soldier was moderately injured. About an hour earlier, Sergeant Major Neta Yitzhak Kohana (19) from Moshav Eitan, fell during an operation by undercover forces in Shejaiya.