“Either Golani or Nothing”: A Grandfather’s Heartbreaking Tribute to Fallen Soldier Amit Cohen 19-year-old Staff Sergeant Amit Cohen, a dedicated Golani soldier, has been tragically killed in an operational accident in Khan Yunis, as his heartbroken grandparents share a poignant glimpse into the life of their “perfect” and courageous grandson.
Staff Sergeant Amit Cohen, a mere 19-year-old Golani soldier from Holon, tragically lost his life in an operational accident when IDF munitions exploded in the building he occupied in Khan Yunis. On Tuesday, his grandfather, Gabi Hazai, shared a profound and heartbreaking tribute to his brave grandson on Kan Reshet Bet.
Gabi recounted Amit’s unwavering determination to serve in the elite Golani Brigade. “Amit was determined to enlist in Golani. They placed him somewhere else, and he refused to leave the recruitment center. After a week, he was summoned to Golani, and he got on the bus. He said, ‘Either Golani or nothing,’” the proud grandfather shared.
Since the war’s onset, Amit served in Lebanon before returning to Gaza, where, as his grandfather solemnly observed, “The bereavement didn’t end.” Gabi described his daily dread, “every morning I woke up and waited for the news. I know he wasn’t afraid, but death is there.”
Amit’s grandmother, Ruti Hazai, lovingly remembered him as a “beautiful child.” She even recalled, “When he was a baby, he was in a Huggies commercial.” Beyond his early charm, Ruti painted a picture of a remarkable young man: “He was a good student, a talented guide in the scouts. He did everything perfectly, with a sort of perfectionism.” Amit’s innate care for others extended to his fellow soldiers, as his grandmother recounted, “He would care for the soldiers around him. He told us that there’s a shortage and he would go buy equipment for thousands of shekels.”
In a truly heartbreaking detail, his grandparents revealed, “A few hours before the disaster, his commander wrote that he was the best soldier in the platoon. Hours later, the commander is fighting for his life after he was severely wounded.”
Staff Sergeant Amit Cohen will be laid to rest on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. at the Holon Military Cemetery. His story stands as a poignant reminder of the profound personal cost of the ongoing conflict.
