His father eulogized: “My firstborn son Tom was killed in Kibbutz Kisufim. From the day he was born, he was a hero and a warrior. At thirteen hours old, he underwent a complicated and innovative operation, and after two more days, another surgery. Since then, he lived without a spleen and survived everything. Later in life, he built a wonderful family and settled his life in the Gaza envelope.
When the war broke out, he stayed with his family inside the secure room, holding the door handle, preventing attempts by Hamas terrorists who were roaming inside the house and sowing terror and destruction while shooting non-stop and throwing grenades. At the end of this threatening and terrible night, the door’s reinforcement could not withstand the strain, a burst of bullets penetrated the armor, hit Tom, and killed him. His wife Limor escaped with their three daughters, and taking an inconceivable risk, she managed to extricate herself from this inferno.” May his memory be blessed.