Master Sergeant (res.) Yedidya Eliyahu, was 25 years old and lived in Karnei Shomron. A combat engineer in Battalion 8170, he fell in battle in the Gaza Strip.

Yigal Lahav, head of the Karnei Shomron Regional Council, wrote, “With a heavy heart, we accompanied the IDF representatives to deliver the bitter news of Yedidya Eliyahu’s fall in battle to his wife, Meitar. A father to two small and lovely girls and the resident of the Ramat Gilad neighborhood for about half a year, Yedidya was the son of Rabbi Yoram Eliyahu from the Kiryat Moshe neighborhood in Jerusalem. He studied at the Sefat Hesder Yeshiva. He was called up for reserve duty from the first day of the operation.He was a spirited man, a lover of Torah, and lover of work. We embrace the soldiers and the extended Eliyahu family. ‘Rejoice, nations, with His people; for He will avenge the blood of His servants, and will render vengeance to His adversaries, and will make atonement for His land, for His people.’ May we hear of good tidings, salvation, and comfort soon.”