Sergeant Ilan Gabai
lan was an excellent soldier and officer. “He was among the best of our sons, an excellent commander, who was tasked with leading a senior platoon in the battalion. This more than anything else testifies to his success. He was outstanding in his desire to move forward.”
As a child, Ilan suffered from serious asthma. Despite this, he became an outstanding
basketball player, and when he joined the paratroopers, he overcame his ailment and
joined an officers’ course. His comrades wrote in the course’s yearbook, “You are a
commander who is an example for your soldiers. You have taught us things that will help
us through the rest of our lives. You taught us dedication to the task and to strive for
victory. You are the most dedicated commander there is – the last to turn out the lights.”
Ilan was killed on August 1, 2006, the same week as his best friend, Yiftach Shreier. He was 22 years old.
As a child, Ilan suffered from serious asthma. Despite this, he became an outstanding
basketball player, and when he joined the paratroopers, he overcame his ailment and
joined an officers’ course. His comrades wrote in the course’s yearbook, “You are a
commander who is an example for your soldiers. You have taught us things that will help
us through the rest of our lives. You taught us dedication to the task and to strive for
victory. You are the most dedicated commander there is – the last to turn out the lights.”
Ilan was killed on August 1, 2006, the same week as his best friend, Yiftach Shreier. He was 22 years old.