Sgt Elad Abu-Gani

Jan 14, 2002 - Sgt. Elad Abu-Gani, 19, of Tiberias, was killed and an officer sustained gunshot wounds in a terrorist ambush near Kuchin, between Nablus and Tulkarm.

The fatal attack took place at about 5:30 P.M., at a temporary roadblock set up near Kuchin earlier that day. Shortly after arriving at the roadblock and leaving their armored personnel carrier, the soldiers noticed two Palestinians nearby, and called for them to approach for inspection. Other Palestinians then fired at the soldiers from an ambush, fatally wounding Sergeant Elad Abu-Gani, who died shortly thereafter. The unit commander was moderately injured by a bullet in his shoulder.

Elad grew up in Tiberias. As the youngest in the family, his parents doted on him. Elad completed his studies at the Amal high school in physics and computers with distinction. His brother-in-law relates that the family tried to convince him to enlist in the army's computer unit, but he insisted on volunteering for a special combat unit.

Sgt. Elad Abu-Gani was buried in the military section of the Tiberias. cemetery. He is survived by his parents, Avi and Miri, two brothers and a sister.